State Finance Minister Dr. Palanivel Thiaga Rajan on Tuesday insisted that the data discrepancy in agriculture should be addressed to improve productivity. Moreover, compassion and competence will have to be managed well in the field of agriculture, he noted.

Addressing the gathering after inaugurating the 129th annual conference of the United Planters’ Association of South India (UPASI) here at Coonoor, Thiaga Rajan said it was time proper plans were evolved to maximize productivity and minimize the price for consumers. "Most of the schemes in agriculture and plantation crops are department-centric rather than beneficiaries-centric.

The present TN government is working out necessary plans to ensure that the government schemes meant for agriculture will become more beneficiaries-centric to ensure that the government schemes reach those who are in need of it to improve farm productivity," he added.

While the Government of India has a task to popularize the plantation crops to help farmers gain more revenue, the minister said compassion towards marginal and small farmers is the need of the hour to improve their income and farm productivity besides delivering farm produce to consumers at the right cost, he added.