MAJOR CROPS

MAJOR CROPS E W N S Not to Scale  Human Geography of Tamil Nadu Plantation crops Tea, coffee, cashew, rubber and pepper are the major plantation crops of the state. Tamil Nadu ranks second in area and production of tea in India next to Assam. Tea plantations are found in the hills of The Nilgiris and Coimbatore. Coffee plants are grown in the hilly slopes of Dindigul, Madurai, Theni, Namakkal and Salem districts. Yercaud, Kolli Hills and Kodaikanal are notable for coffee plantations. Tamil Nadu stands second in area and production of coffee next to Karnataka. Rubber plantations are significant in Kanniyakumari. Pepper is confined to the warm and wet slopes of Eastern and Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu. Cashew is extensively cultivated in Cuddalore district. To promote organic farming a central scheme named ‘National Project on Organic Farming’ was launched Apart from general things (creating awareness, promoting organic fertilizers, training, capacity building etc.), the scheme provides financial assistance through Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme for agro-waste compost production units, bio-fertilizers/bio-pesticides production units, development and implementation of quality control regime, human resource development etc.