“Need to Double Agriculture Growth Rate”: CM Yogi at AgriGation FPO Leadership Summit & Exhibition in Lucknow

On the occasion of Kisan Diwas, the AgriGation FPO Leadership Summit and Exhibition were held at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, to support the state's farmers. Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, inaugurated the event, and Narendra Singh Tomar, the minister of agriculture and farmer welfare, was invited as the special guest.

Chief Minister Yogi addressed farmers/agricultural entrepreneurs and Agri scientists at the felicitation and prize distribution ceremony after inaugurating the exhibition of products of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs).

"Uttar Pradesh has 16% of the country's population, 11% of the most fertile agricultural land is here; we also have the best water resources," he explained. CM Yogi also stated that, "UP produces 20% of the country's total food grains. We can take it further if we plan our resources properly. Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) will play a key role in this."

The Chief Minister also paid tribute to former Prime Minister of India and farmer leader Chaudhary Charan Singh on the occasion of Kisan Samman Diwas. "We all know that after independence, Chaudhary Saheb made it clear that if India is to emerge as a global power, agriculture within the country must be done," the Chief Minister began his address. And the emphasis will have to be on farming. The path of development for India will emerge from the fields and barns."

Referring to PM Modi's efforts, the Chief Minister stated that Prime Minister began many programmes in 2014 to realise Chaudhary Saheb's dreams and to bring about a comprehensive change in the lives of Annadata farmers, doubling their income.

“We established the soil health cards system to protect the health of Mother Earth, which feeds us all and serves as the foundation of self-reliance and respect. For the first time, the Fasal Kisan Bima Yojana was launched. The schemes' proper implementation was also ensured with their introduction.”

In reference to the work done for farmers in Uttar Pradesh, the Chief Minister stated that in the last five and a half years, many programmes have been launched in the state. Yogi emphasized natural farming in the state, saying that the Prime Minister has introduced a new farming concept to the country's Annadata farmers in the form of National Natural Farming.

Experience with natural farming teaches a lot. The monsoon arrived late, but the Annadata farmers who practise natural farming had already made preparations, and their productivity was high. Many prominent people spoke at the event, including Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi. Brajesh Pathak, the deputy chief minister, Surya Pratap Singh, Swatantra Dev Singh, the minister of agriculture, Arun Kumar Saxena, the minister of the environment, Arun Kumar Saxena, the minister of state (independent charge), Dinesh Pratap Singh, and the minister of state for agriculture, Baldev Singh Aulakh were all present at the event.