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.