Bill allowing wild boar culling in next assembly session: Min

Madurai: A bill enabling culling of wild boars damaging agricultural fields will be introduced in the upcoming assembly session, agriculture and farmers welfare minister M R K Panneerselvam has said. Addressing farmers at the inauguration of the two-day regional agricultural fair 2025 at ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Aruppukottai on Saturday, he said the bill aims to address long-standing challenges faced by farmers due to wild boar invasions, which often devastate crops. Forest and agricultural departments are working on the bill, he said.Panneerselvam said that apart from introducing a separate budget for agriculture, the govt under chief minister M K Stalin's leadership has also devised several schemes to empower farmers. These efforts ensured a sense of pride in farming while improving livelihoods. On efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change on agriculture, he cited ₹1,023 crore financial aid given to over 1.53 lakh farmers affected by drought, floods, and erratic rainfall over the last three years.Addressing the gathering, revenue and disaster management minister K K S S R Ramachandran emphasized the significance of innovative policies that sustain agriculture even under adverse climatic conditions. Environment and climate change minister Thangam Thennarasu lauded the research initiatives to develop climate-resilient crops such as naturally coloured cotton varieties that eliminate the need for dyes. "We are in a period where rain in the country is not uniform and flash floods are common, so we have to invent such crops that can sustain climate changes," added Thennarasu.District collector V P Jayaseelan commended the event organisers for bringing advanced farming techniques and research directly to the region's farmers. He highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance soil health and water conservation in drought-prone districts like Virudhunagar.The agricultural fair showcased innovative practices and technologies tailored for sustainable farming. Highlights included climate-resilient crop varieties, techniques for integrated farming, water conservation tools, and post-harvest management for small grains and pulses. Exhibits also featured year-round income-generating dry land horticulture, modern apiary methods, and improved livestock maintenance strategies. Publications on these advancements were released during the event by the agriculture minister.