CM Yogi inaugurates project to empower farmers, boost agriculture
Lucknow, Jan 28: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Growth and Rural Enterprise Ecosystem Strengthening (UP-AGREES) project on Tuesday, marking a significant step forward for farmers and the agriculture sector.
This project is expected to become a milestone in boosting agricultural productivity, enhancing rural enterprises and empowering farmers in the state.
It aims to improve farmers’ yield, which is anticipated to rise from 10 quintals to 14-15 quintals per acre, and will provide a much-needed boost to the agricultural economy of Uttar Pradesh.
It is worth mentioning here that around 45 percent of the country’s land is cultivable, with 75 percent of this land located in Uttar Pradesh, making it one of the most fertile and productive regions in India. This is why UP leads the nation in the production of wheat, potatoes, mangoes, guavas, peas, mushrooms, watermelons, honey, and more.
The state accounts for 15 percent of India’s vegetable production and 11 percent of its fruit production. Despite housing 16 to 17 percent of the nation’s population, Uttar Pradesh contributes over 23 percent of India’s food grain output, earning it the title of the food basket of India.
CM Yogi stated that UP currently ranks third in the country in the export of food grains. In this context, the UP- AGREES project will serve as a milestone for advancing the state’s export potential. He highlighted that this initiative marks a positive start for farmers and the others working in the agriculture sector. The project, which is valued at Rs 4,000 crore has secured a loan of Rs 2,737 crore from the World Bank, with the state government contributing Rs 1,666 crore.
The main objective of the UP- AGREES project is to enhance agricultural productivity through the identification of key sectors and improvement of major crops. The project aims to develop specific agricultural products, improve post-harvest management, and establish a robust market support system to increase farmers' incomes.
Additionally, it focuses on developing local infrastructure and generating employment.
The project will be implemented in two phases. In the first phase, 28 districts from eight commissionerates in Uttar Pradesh have been selected. It will run for six years, starting in 2024-25 and continuing through 2029-30. The initiative aims to boost agricultural productivity by an additional 30 to 35 percent.
Chief Minister emphasised that, inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, UP is setting new benchmarks for overall development. The progress in agriculture and related sectors is particularly evident, with this programme being a key part of the state’s developmental campaign.
The foundation stone for a greenfield manufacturing unit by Chempack India was also laid at the UPEIDA’s Integrated Manufacturing and Logistics Cluster in Unnao. An investment of Rs 1,300 crore will be injected into the state under this project.
Additionally, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the state government and UAE’s Aquabridge for an investment of approximately Rs 4,000 crore to modernise the fisheries sector. CM emphasised that the utility of a data bank would bring transformative changes to the lives of farmers.
CM Yogi also announced that farmers who currently produce 10 quintals per acre, will see their yields increase to 14 to 15 quintals per acre by joining the project. He stated that to position Uttar Pradesh as an agriculture hub, an international airport is under construction in Jewar, which is set to be inaugurated in April.
Among those present at the event were Cabinet Minister Anil Rajbhar, Minister Sanjay Nishad, Dinesh Pratap Singh, Jaswant Saini, Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh, Agriculture Production Commissioner Monica S Garg, and Principal Secretary of MSME Alok Kumar.
