Lucknow, April 24: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attended the inaugural program of the Regional Agriculture Conference (Northern Region) in Lucknow on Friday.
On this occasion, he said that Uttar Pradesh is making remarkable progress in the field of agricultural production. This change is the result of scientific techniques, agro-climatic zone-based strategies, and coordinated efforts of the central and state governments. The “Lab to Land” concept has been implemented in Uttar Pradesh, directly benefiting farmers.
Addressing the conference held at Hotel Centrum, Chief Minister Yogi said that the significant increase in agricultural growth rate in Uttar Pradesh, record improvement in production per hectare, expansion of multi-cropping, and increasing focus on value addition are clear signs of this change.
Describing regional agricultural conferences, the establishment of international agricultural centers, the empowerment of agricultural science centers, and the role of progressive farmers as the key pillars of this transformation, the Chief Minister said that Uttar Pradesh today has the potential to give a new direction to the country’s agricultural economy.
In his address, the Chief Minister emphasized that since different countries and regions have different agro-climatic zones, policies should also be tailored accordingly. Organizing such seminars in different zones yields positive results.
Sharing his experiences, the Chief Minister said that last year, during the “Developed Agriculture Campaign” and “Kheti Ki Baat, Khet Mein” programs, he had the opportunity to visit several districts, where he witnessed unprecedented enthusiasm and curiosity among farmers, agricultural scientists, and agricultural education trainees. For the first time, innovation has been put into practice. Previously, research conducted in the lab took a long time to reach the land, but now the concept of “lab to land” has become a reality, and technology is reaching the farm directly.
Chief Minister expressed his gratitude to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who was present at the event, for this innovative initiative and said that he has done the important work of practically implementing this concept across the country.
Referring to the situation in 2017, the Chief Minister said that at that time, there were only 69 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in the state, which were virtually inactive and their scientists were attached to other institutions. Subsequently, the Central Government initiated 20 new KVKs and worked on an action plan to strengthen existing centers. Today, all KVKs are actively promoting innovation and giving new direction to agricultural development through Centers of Excellence in all nine agro-climatic zones of the state.
The Chief Minister said that today these scientists conduct demonstrations at the local level and then implement them in farmers’ fields. They conduct frequent visits, conduct ongoing seminars, and organize various programs. They also maintain a constant dialogue with the Government of India. As a result, Uttar Pradesh’s agricultural growth rate has increased from eight to nearly 18 percent. The results indicate that we can achieve even better achievements.
Chief Minister said, “I believe that at the time of independence, agriculture’s contribution to India’s economy was approximately 41-42 percent. Over time, its contribution has declined. If there is better coordination between agriculture and manufacturing, the pace of development can be further accelerated. Currently, manufacturing’s contribution still hovers around 15-16 percent, while agriculture’s share has declined to approximately 20-21 percent. Now, there is a need to integrate agriculture with value addition. To achieve this, new efforts need to be pursued more vigorously and expanded effectively.”
Chief Minister said that technology can play a crucial role in today’s times. Expressing gratitude to the Government of India and Prime Minister Modi, he said that they have established international centers for various products in Uttar Pradesh. For example, the International Rice Institute has been established in Varanasi, which is yielding excellent results. New varieties have been developed here. The results of identifying which varieties are suitable for different agro-climatic zones, which techniques should be adopted, and how quality seeds can increase production are now clearly visible.
He expressed happiness that in some areas, paddy production per hectare has reached 100 quintals, which was previously limited to 50-60 quintals.
The Chief Minister cited the example of Padma Award-winning progressive farmer Ram Sharan Verma of Barabanki.
He said that last year, he had the opportunity to visit his farm under the “Developed Agriculture Campaign.” If someone asks Ram Sharan Verma about his educational qualifications, he describes himself as a “tenth-grade failure,” but his expertise in farming and his use of scientific methods are extremely inspiring. He provides a living example of achieving higher production at lower costs.
The Chief Minister said that farmers are now receiving fair prices for their produce. Today, Uttar Pradesh is making remarkable progress in agricultural production. Currently, the state produces approximately 42.5 million metric tons of wheat, 21.1 million metric tons of rice, and 24.5 million metric tons of potatoes. Additionally, oilseed production has reached approximately 4.8 million metric tons. Uttar Pradesh has also recorded significant growth in vegetable and other crop production.
On this occasion, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister of State for Agriculture Ramnath Thakur, Union Minister of State for Agriculture Bhagirath Chaudhary, Agriculture Minister of Uttar Pradesh Surya Pratap Shahi, Horticulture Minister of Uttar Pradesh Dinesh Pratap Singh, Minister of State for Agriculture of Uttar Pradesh Baldev Singh Aulakh, Horticulture Minister of Himachal Pradesh Jagat Singh Negi, Agriculture Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Javed Ahmed Dar, Horticulture Minister of Punjab Mohinder Bhagat, Agriculture Minister of Punjab Gurmeet Singh, Agriculture Minister of Uttarakhand Ganesh Joshi were present.