Tamil Nadu Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister MRK Panneerselvam on Tuesday, 20 February, presented the agriculture budget for 2024-25 in the Assembly and announced new initiatives, including those aimed at improving soil fertility. He announced a new scheme, Chief Minister’s Mannuyir Kaathu Mannuyir Kaappom Scheme (to protect soil fertility) with 22 components with an outlay of ₹206 crore.