The trade bodies in Madurai offered a mixed reaction to the Agriculture Budget presented in the Assembly by Agriculture Minister R. Vinoth on Thursday. He said it was disappointing that the Budget did not include any new long-term policy initiatives aimed at taking Tamil Nadu’s agriculture to the next stage of development. The government seeks to protect natural resources, promote sustainable agricultural growth and ensure the long-term livelihood security of farmers, he said. He welcomed the government’s initiative to integrate women’s self-help groups with agriculture, livestock, dairy, fisheries and rural livelihood schemes, thereby enhancing their income. The scheme has the potential to transform agriculture into a higher-income profession and encourage more people to take up farming, he said.