- By Kamakshi Bishnoi
- Mon, 05 May 2025 12:54 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Yogi Adityanath government has directed the Agriculture Department to develop and certify seeds suited to the state’s diverse climatic zones to enhance foodgrain production. In a review meeting on Sunday, the Chief Minister instructed that separate seed varieties be prepared for early and late-sowing seasons and made available to farmers at subsidised rates.
Yogi emphasised the importance of completing the proposed Chaudhary Charan Singh Seed Park in Lucknow “at the earliest,” calling it the cornerstone of a seed-sector revolution. He noted that while Uttar Pradesh accounts for just 11.41 per cent of India’s cultivated land, it contributes 20.89 per cent of the nation’s foodgrain output—a rise from 557.46 lakh tonnes in 2016–17 to over 725.12 lakh tonnes in 2024–25. Production of pulses and oilseeds has more than doubled during the same period.
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“Quality and climate-appropriate seeds are vital,” the Chief Minister said. He urged the UP Seed Development Corporation to increase its direct procurement from farmers and ensure widespread availability of certified, processed seeds. CM Yogi also called for accelerated, technology-driven agricultural innovations in collaboration with institutions such as the Agricultural Research Council.
On the subsidy front, the Chief Minister stressed transparency: extensive publicity must precede machine-subsidy applications, and selection processes should aim to reach farmers across as many development blocks as possible. He further directed officials to strengthen the procurement and promotion of the state’s branded rice (Shrianna) and to establish an effective certification system for organic produce under the natural farming initiative.
The meeting also highlighted that some 2.81 crore farmers have benefited from the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana to date.