Tamil Nadu agriculture minister MRK Panneerselvam today presented the state's 33-thousand crore rupees agriculture budget in the Assembly in Chennai today. In the budget, 2546 crore rupees has been allocated for the crop insurance scheme for the next financial year. The document envisages the production of 126 lakh metric tons of food grains next year. To facilitate inter-state trading of agricultural produce, three wholesale vegetable complexes are to be established in as many border districts with Kerala. Mechanization of agriculture has been given an additional thrust as the minister said the farming sector faces an acute shortage of labour force.<br />''<br />''The principal opposition AIADMK has said the farm budget is a hollow document. Its leader and former chief minister Edappadi Palaniswamy told reporters outside the Assembly, there are no concrete steps outlined in the budget, adding, it is a compilation of empty statements. The PMK has welcomed the budget saying it reflects the Government's commitment to the farm sector. The CPI (M) has said the proposals for the revival of the closed sugarcane mills are laudable.  <br />''<br />''AIR correspondent reports that there are several joint initiatives of the Centre and the States that are mentioned in the budget to promote the farm sector including the food parks and Farmer Producer Organisations.<br />''Organic farming has been given a boost in the budget with the support of the Centre's Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, by forming 150 clusters covering 7500 acres of land. Upgrading the three proposed mega food parks in the state and the easy availability of fertilizers with the Centre's support have been specially mentioned in the document. As a Centre-State initiative, special schemes on promoting sunflower and other oil seeds cultivation have also been announced. The state seed development agency has been given the target of producing 30-thousand metric tons of seeds. Skill training to 2500 youth in agriculture has also been announced in the standalone agri-budget. A new Millet Mission has been announced with two different zones covering twenty districts in the state. Integrated farming has been given a focus with components like crops, fodder, animal husbandry and Nutri-gardens. Infusion of technology including artificial intelligence, precision farming and remote sensing, promotion of traditional varieties of rice, additional incentives to sugarcane farmers, formation of honey clusters are some of the other features of the agriculture budget. <br />