State Level Kharif Productivity Seminar 2024 was inaugurated by Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi On May 12, 2024, at Mars Auditorium, Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow, the. The seminar centered on doubling farmers' incomes and empowering them, with farmers presenting their concerns to ministers and officials for deliberation and resolution.
On this seminar, Minister of sugar mill and sugarcane development Lakshmi Narayan Chaudhary, Animal Husbandry Minister Dharampal Singh, Forest Minister Arun Kumar Saxena, Cooperation Minister J.P.S. Rathore, Minister of State for Agriculture Baldev Singh Aulakh, Agriculture Production Commissioner Manoj Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi, Principal Secretary Horticulture B.L. Meena, Director Agriculture Jitendra Singh Tomar, and Director Horticulture Dr. Vijay Kumar Dwivedi were present.
Addressing the gathering, Surya Pratap Shahi highlighted significant agricultural achievements in the state, noting that paddy productivity has risen from 40.51 quintals per hectare to 46 quintals per hectare, while millet productivity has increased from 20.82 quintals per hectare to 27.7 quintals per hectare. He emphasized improvements in production and productivity across various crops including jowar, urad, oilseeds, groundnut, sunflower, and coarse grains. Shahi also mentioned the provision of accurate weather forecasts to farmers through the Indian Meteorological Department's satellite-based system and the ongoing efforts to ensure affordable and continuous irrigation via solar pumps.
Awadhesh Singh, a farmer from Jhansi, highlighted that despite animal husbandry being part of agriculture, farmers like him face the inconvenience of having to navigate multiple departments for assistance. He questioned why farmers cannot have access to a single window facility similar to what industrialists receive in the state, aiming to streamline the process and ensure easier access to scheme benefits.
आज इंदिरा गांधी प्रतिष्ठान गोमतीनगर में मा कृषि मंत्री श्री @spshahibjp जी की अध्यक्षता में राज्य स्तरीय खरीफ उत्पादकता गोष्ठी 2024 का शुभारंभ किया गया।
— Krishi Vibhag Gov UP (@jdabureau) June 12, 2024
इस अवसर पर मा कृषि राज्य मंत्री श्री @BaldevAulakh जी, मा उद्यान राज्य मंत्री श्री दिनेश सिंह जी, मा वन मंत्री जी@UPGovt pic.twitter.com/9OVeYb3GBv
Laxmi Narayan Chaudhary highlighted the commitment to ensuring timely payments to sugarcane farmers, underscoring efforts to streamline the payment process and maintain transparency in disbursing dues promptly, thereby supporting the financial stability of farmers dependent on sugarcane cultivation.
Manoj Kumar Singh emphasized that Uttar Pradesh stands out globally as a powerhouse for agriculture, with approximately 70% of its land suitable for farming, compared to around 45% in India and only 10% worldwide. He highlighted that Uttar Pradesh boasts an impressive 86% coverage of assured irrigation, significantly higher than the national average of 55% in India and 21% globally. Singh stressed that enhancing crop diversification is pivotal to augmenting farmers' incomes.
Minister of State for Horticulture (Independent Charge), Dinesh Pratap Singh, underscored Uttar Pradesh's rising global recognition in horticulture production, affirming its profitability for farmers.
Dharampal Singh highlighted that animal husbandry and agriculture are complementary departments, hence farmers should take both together. He stressed that leveraging both livestock rearing and crop cultivation concurrently not only improves farm income but also fosters sustainable agricultural practices.
Minister of State for Forest and Environment (Independent Charge), Arun Kumar Saxena, noted the escalating annual temperatures, advocating for increased tree plantation alongside farming to maximize benefits.
Minister of State for Cooperation (Independent Charge), JPS Rathore, emphasized that the Cooperative department serves as the largest support system for farmers, experiencing a resurgence under the Yogi government. He highlighted cooperative banks as a beacon of hope for farmers.
