Tamil Nadu State Agricultural Council Act, 2009

What the Act governs

The Tamil Nadu State Agricultural Council Act, 2009 applies throughout Tamil Nadu. It provides a regulatory framework for agricultural practice, including agriculture and horticulture, and defines an agricultural practitioner as a person with an agricultural qualification who carries out an agricultural project.

An agricultural project is described as a specific agriculture or horticulture work programme with defined objectives, an action plan, a time frame and financial implications.

The Act does not itself commence on publication. It comes into force on a date appointed by the Government through a notification.

Tamil Nadu State Agricultural Council

The Government may establish the Tamil Nadu State Agricultural Council by notification. The Council is a corporate body that can acquire, hold and dispose of movable and immovable property, enter into contracts, and sue or be sued.

Key provisions include:

• Twenty Council members are elected by people whose names are entered in the register.
• Tamil Nadu Agricultural University nominates five senior faculty members representing Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, Agricultural Engineering and Home Science.
• The Government nominates representatives from its Agriculture, Horticulture and Agricultural Engineering Departments, along with a leading agricultural entrepreneur.
• A person must be registered to qualify for nomination or election to the Council.
• The Council must meet every quarter, and nine members form the quorum.
• The Council must establish an executive committee and may create other committees.

Qualifications and registration

Agricultural qualifications granted by institutions in Tamil Nadu and included in the Schedule are recognised for the purposes of the Act. An institution offering a qualification not included in the Schedule may apply to the Government for recognition. After consulting the Council, the Government may amend the Schedule by notification.

Qualifications from outside Tamil Nadu or outside India may be recognised where a reciprocal recognition scheme exists. The Council may negotiate such schemes, and the Government may declare recognition by notification following the Council's recommendation.

Who may be affected

The Tamil Nadu State Agricultural Council Act, 2009 principally affects agricultural and horticultural practitioners, agricultural institutions, government agriculture bodies and people seeking Council membership. The supplied provisions do not regulate land title, property registration, land use conversion or ownership transactions, although the Council itself may hold and dispose of property.