UP Digital Agriculture Policy on anvilUP CM Yogi Adityanath

Virendra Singh Rawat

Uttar Pradesh, which is one of India’s leading farm producers, is mulling over a Digital Agriculture Policy to boost the sector and augment farm incomes.

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to expedite the creation of a Digital Agriculture Ecosystem in UP to strengthen the agricultural sector through self-reliance, sustainability and digital innovation.

The proposed system will provide real-time, integrated access to data on crops, weather, seeds, irrigation, fertilisers, insurance, markets, logistics and institutional services.

Reviewing the progress of the UP Agriculture Growth and Rural Enterprise Ecosystem Strengthening Project (UP-Agrees), he instructed that a Digital Agriculture Policy be prepared based on national technical standards to ensure secure cyber infrastructure and promote innovation-based research.

Highlighting the vision of ‘From Agriculture to Industry’, the CM emphasised value addition, processing and local employment generation.

He directed that under the coordination of the UP Diversified Agriculture Support Project (UP DASP), the initiative be implemented in collaboration with agricultural universities, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs).

Officials informed the Rs 4,000-crore (US$500 million) UP-Agrees project, supported by the World Bank, is being implemented over six years across 28 districts in Eastern UP and Bundelkhand regions.

The project aims to promote sustainable growth aligned with changing climatic conditions, strengthen market linkages, enhance productivity, optimize resource use and support the development of agro-based industries.

The CM was informed that under the productivity enhancement program, emphasis is being laid on land development, water conservation, soil health improvement, and adoption of modern technology-based agricultural practices.

Collective efforts are being made to connect small and marginal farmers with technical support, training, and marketing facilities.

The chief minister said that planned efforts should be made to ensure the availability of improved seeds.

Under the Commodity Cluster Approach, clusters are being developed for peanuts in Bundelkhand, red chili and vegetables in Varanasi, for banana between Barabanki and Azamgarh, and for crops like Kala Namak rice, green peas, black gram (urad), and potatoes.

He directed that ’tissue culture’ should be promoted to boost banana cultivation. He also emphasised appointing sectoral experts for the effective implementation of the project.

Discussing the fisheries sector, Yogi emphasised the need to produce fish seed within UP to cut costs for fish farmers.

Under the cluster development approach, comprehensive measures are being implemented to boost fish production and productivity, ensure quality seed supply, adopt modern technologies, and strengthen management from production to marketing.

The project targets the development of around 90,000 hectares for fish farming, benefiting nearly 100,000 families.

The CM said strengthening the agricultural financial system is extremely important.

Under this, emphasis should be placed on providing credit facilities to small and marginal farmers, as well as to micro and small enterprises based on agriculture, establishing strong risk management systems, and encouraging private investment.

Meanwhile, significant progress has been made in the institutional groundwork for the project.

Social and environmental assessments have been completed, and both the monitoring, learning, and evaluation agency and the technical support agency have been appointed.

A six-year productivity program agreement has also been finalised with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).

The process of selecting a technical support agency for capacity building of FPOs is nearing completion, while the appointment of a technical advisory agency is in its final stage.

The objective of the project is not only to increase agricultural production but also to make the rural economy self-reliant.

The CM directed that the results of each component of the project be reviewed regularly, and that it be ensured the direct benefits reach the farmers.

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