Government to Provide Rs 60 lakh to FPOs For Quality Seeds

The state government will provide Rs 60 lakh to farmer producer organisations (FPOs) across Uttar Pradesh to store and deliver quality seeds in an effort to enhance agriculture and raise farmers' income. In addition, at 100 locations, a storage facility with a capacity of 500 metric tonnes will be created.

The agriculture department has begun efforts in 47 districts to improve pulse, oilseed, and fodder yields by encouraging the use of certified seeds.

"It came to light that financial institutions were not particularly willing in delivering funding to FROs," said Devesh Chaturvedi, additional chief secretary for agriculture. On this front, work has already begun. District magistrates and chief development officials have been encouraged to make seed infrastructural facilities more accessible."

Last week, the agriculture department issued a government order to DMs in Lucknow, Barabanki, Prayagraj, Lalitpur, Etawah, Kanpur, Unnao, Fatehpur, Agra, Jalaun, Maharajganj, Aligarh, Jhansi, Ghaziabad, Balrampur, Lakhimpur, Pratapgarh, Kasganj, Chitrakoot, Azamgarh, and Kannauj among others.

Officials claimed 76 storage units had been set up, with 24 more under construction. "It will be beneficial to farmers if they obtain certified and quality seeds at cheap rates," said Jayesh Singh of Amethi's Gauriganj district. It will boost agricultural yields and raise farmers' income."

The cost of the storage facility, resources, and infrastructure is anticipated to be Rs 36 lakh. A diesel genset or other source of continuous electricity would be necessary, which will cost an extra Rs 20 lakh to Rs 24 lakh.

All of the seeds will be inspected for quality, and a district-level committee will monitor the process. Members of the committee will include the district agriculture officer and horticulture officer, among others.

After the food producer organization meets the established milestones, the funds will be paid to their accounts and issued only after verification.