INTRODUCTION:

Agriculture is the principal source of livelihood for more than 40 percent of the population of this State. Agriculture provides wage goods required by the non-agricultural sectors and raw materials for the industrial sector.

Strategic Initiatives in Agriculture :

Tamil Nadu envisages achieving 5.0 percent of annual average growth rate in Agricultural sector. To achieve this, key initiatives to be taken under Vision 2023 are:
* Promote market driven agricultural produce.
* Accelerating Innovation and Extension Mechanism .
* Functional consolidation of land holdings.
*  Emphasis on mechanization
*  Improving Productivity
*  Assurance of timely irrigation
* Creating a robust supply chain
* Skill development in agriculture
 The investment proposed the agriculture sector is Rs.40,000 Crores – Rs.16000 Crore for improving water resources, Rs.13000 Crore for agroprocessing and value addition and Rs.11000 Crore for other projects (cold storages, grain storage complexes, perishable air cargo complex, gamma irradiation facility and terminal market complexes. 

 Climate:

  The climate of Tamil Nadu is basically tropical. Due to its proximity to the sea the summer is less hot and winter is less cold. The maximum daily temperature rarely exceeds 43°C and the minimum daily temperature seldom falls below 18°C. The State is exposed to both South West and North East monsoons.

Soil type:

Rice is a semi aquatic plant and grows best under low land condition. In India, it grows in almost all types of soils- alluvial, red, lateritic, laterite, black, saline and alkali, peaty and marshy soils and in acid soils. But the soils having good water retention capacity with good amount of clay and organic matter are ideal for rice cultivation. Clay and clay loam soils are most suited. 

Duration groups in rice:

  i. Very early About 100 days 

ii. Short 100-120 days

 iii. Medium 121-140 days 

iv. Long 141-160 days

 v. Very long Above 160 days.