CM Yogi Adityanath said that Uttar Pradesh is a state of immense grace of nature and God. We have vast agricultural land and ample water resources. The land here is very fertile. Uttar Pradesh is perhaps the only state in the world where more than 86 per cent of the land is irrigated. On the other hand, there is an excellent network of agricultural universities run by the central and state governments.
2 CM Yogi was speaking at the Krishi Vigyan Sanman function organised on the occasion of the 36th Foundation Day of the Uttar Pradesh Council of Agricultural Research (Upkar) at the Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research here today. On this occasion, he inaugurated the National Seminar on ‘Vikas Krishi Vikas Uttar Pradesh / 2047’. The Chief Minister launched the song of Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Research Council. He released Upkar’s technical booklet ‘Innovative Approach for Production and Value Addition of Shri Ann in Changing Climate Scenario’, ‘Upkar Samachar’ (News Letter), a boon for cow-based natural farming and sustainable agriculture and ‘Ikshu’, a magazine of Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow.
At the function, CM Yogi honoured the scientists selected in various fields under the Uttar Pradesh Krishi Vigyan Samman Yojana for the years 2023-24 and 2024-25, as well as the Farmer Producer Organizations doing excellent work in the field of agriculture in the state. He also gave away the awards and fellows for the year 2024 of Uttar Pradesh Academy of Agricultural Sciences (UPAS). In the program, the Chairman of Upkar, Captain (retd) Vikas Gupta, apprised the Chief Minister of the major achievements of Upkar. Earlier, the Chief Minister visited the Agriculture Exhibition.
Congratulating all the agricultural scientists and ‘Upkar “who have contributed to the realization of the vision of developed Uttar Pradesh through developed agriculture, for completing the journey of 35 years,CM Yogi said that the more expertise a person has, the easier it is for him to move forward in that field. Four agricultural universities are already functioning in Uttar Pradesh and the fifth agricultural university is being set up. More than 15 institutions are working in the field of agricultural research in the state. 89 Krishi Vigyan Kendras are providing the benefit of their expertise to the farmers of the state. Despite all this, there are only 25 to 30 percent farmers of the state who are able to effectively implement these works of scientific research and research in their farming.
The Chief Minister said that 16 percent of the country’s population lives in Uttar Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh has only 11 per cent of the total cultivable land in the country. From this land, we are producing more than 20 percent of the country’s food grains. Considering the plain land of Uttar Pradesh, its fertility and sufficient water resources, three times more production can be taken from this land. For this, we have to work with full commitment to further agricultural research and development.
The Chief Minister said that only those countries in the world have developed which have focused more and more on research and development. This development can take place in different fields including space science, IT, atomic science. Uttar Pradesh has the potential to feed not only the country but also the world in the field of agriculture. We can do a lot in the field of agriculture, horticulture, vegetables. We should try to carry forward the research work according to our climatic zone and environment. Research and development programmes at our level can play a decisive role in the progress of the country and the state.
The Chief Minister said that it is not necessary that what is suitable for Europe should also be suitable for India. We have to prepare ourselves in the direction of carrying forward development and research work in accordance with India’s environment, climate and soil. For this, we will have to make constant efforts. All these possibilities are in Uttar Pradesh. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has set a target of a developed India by 2047. Each state has its own role to play in achieving these goals. For a developed India, we have to make a developed Uttar Pradesh. To create a developed Uttar Pradesh, hidden possibilities have to be explored in all areas.
The Chief Minister said that India has set itself a target of becoming a 5 trillion dollar economy by the year 2027. We have set a target to make Uttar Pradesh a trillion-dollar economy by 2029. In the year 2047, when India will become a 30 trillion dollar economy, where will Uttar Pradesh be, what will be the per capita income of the state, what will be our position in different sectors of life including agriculture, infrastructure, industry, education and health, for these, the Uttar Pradesh government is moving ahead with a comprehensive plan of action.
“We have set short-term, medium-term and long-term action plans. We have to take all this together, only then we will be able to achieve the big goal. Agricultural universities, institutions for agricultural research and Krishi Vigyan Kendras should make efforts in this direction. He said that a Centre of Excellence has been set up in the state with the help of Israel. We should try to expand it further.
The Chief Minister said that at present the consequences of climate change are coming to the fore.
There should be heavy rainfall at this time, but there are 15-16 districts of the state, which have received less than average rainfall. The neighbouring states have received less rainfall.
We should try to face these situations and prepare the farmers for it. Farmers are mostly dependent on rain. If there is a delay in rain, sowing is also delayed. This has an adverse effect on the yield.
This could be as high as 30 per cent.
The Chief Minister said that we should train the farmers for the availability and sowing of seeds for late varieties. Farmers don’t know that. Farmers sow and transplant seeds in the old way. If 4 correct information is given to the farmers at the right time through the Krishi Vigyan Kendras, agricultural universities and agricultural research centers and these are demonstrated, then there can be development and more production in the agriculture sector. For this, we have to reach out to the farmers.
The Chief Minister said that agriculture is the most employment-generating sector in Uttar Pradesh.
About three crore farmers are dependent on agriculture. After this, MSME is the second sector, under which 1 crore 65 lakh people get employment. Apart from this, people have also got employment in different sectors. Agriculture should not be the cause of migration of people, but the medium of their prosperity. This is possible only when we are able to give the benefit of the research done in the agriculture sector to the farmers.
The Chief Minister said that if Uttar Pradesh develops, no power in the world can stop India from developing. If every person makes sincere efforts in their respective fields, there will be no obstacle in achieving success. All the sectors related to agriculture and agriculture like horticulture, animal husbandry, vegetable and dairy will have to be promoted simultaneously. The Prime Minister says that prosperity will come to the faces of farmers only when we reduce their cost and increase production. This can only be achieved through research and development.
The Chief Minister expressed confidence that Upkar would carry forward its unique research and development programmes about the farmers of the state. Upkar will reach a unique conclusion with its 35 years of achievements, which will be significant in view of Uttar Pradesh’s role in realising the vision of a developed India.
Agriculture Minister Shri Surya Pratap Shahi said that Uttar Pradesh is an important state from the point of view of agriculture. The soil quality and climate of the state is better than other states. Due to the efforts of the state government, more than 80 percent of the state’s land has been irrigated. In order to increase the prosperity of the farmers of the state, the state government has launched the Accelerated Maize Development Programme. Natural farming programs are being run in all the 7 districts of Bundelkhand. The state government has distributed free mini seed kits to the farmers to increase the production of pulses and oilseeds in the past years.
Shri Dinesh Pratap Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Horticulture and Agriculture Marketing, Shri Baldev Singh Olakh, Minister of State for Agriculture, Shri Shyam Bihari Gupta, Chairman, Go-Seva Aayog, Shri Awanish Kumar Awasthi, Advisor to the Chief Minister, Shri Ravindra, Principal Secretary, Agriculture, Dr.Sanjay Singh, Director General, Upkar, Dr.Dinesh Singh, Director, Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow and Vice Chancellors of various agricultural universities, agricultural scientists and senior officers of the administration were present on the occasion