Tamil Nadu's agricultural sector needs urgent reforms, says the State Planning Commission in the Economic Survey 2025-26 released on February 16, 2026. Since 2001-02, the state lost about two lakh hectares of net sown area, while fallow land has increased. The Commission urges policies to reclaim and better use this idle land. The decline of surface irrigation like canals and tanks, with little change in net irrigated area, calls for better groundwater management. Wells, mostly using electric pumps, now dominate irrigation. The report highlights heavy reliance on local markets for inputs and sales, pointing to the need for improved sustainable input systems and market infrastructure. Crop yields for key products such as paddy and pulses have stagnated, affecting farmers’ incomes. However, the livestock sector has shown "remarkable growth," boosting agriculture's value added from 30% in 2011-12 to 53% in 2024-25. The Commission recommends cold storage development to reduce wastage of perishable goods like milk, eggs, and fish. Maize cultivation grew rapidly due to poultry feed demand, with its area rising by 3.6 lakh hectares since 2001-02. Meanwhile, traditional cereals like cumbu and ragi declined. Farmer awareness of Minimum Support Price (MSP) is low, with about 68% unaware for paddy and 90% for maize. Around 80% of households depend on local markets, underscoring the need for better storage, transport, and trading systems. The report also calls for wider adoption of bio-inputs and less chemical use. Despite many extension services, outreach remains weak, and few farmers have soil health cards. The Commission urges expanding soil testing and health labs to promote sustainable farming and productivity in Tamil Nadu.