Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath today inaugurated a four-day Agro Tech India in Lucknow.
The mega even saw representatives from several countries including Netherlands, Australia, Canada, Spain and Uganda apart from India.
UP is home to 17 percent of India’s population and possesses 11 percent of the country’s arable land.
“With fertile land and abundant water resources, UP produces over 20 percent of the country’s total food grains on just 11 percent of its agricultural land,” the CM said in his address.
Pointing to the challenges in the agri sector, he broached upon two major issues including reducing the cost of farming and increasing the adoption of technology to make agriculture chemical-free, accessible, and sustainable.
At the ‘CEO Roundtable on the Future of Farming’ session, UP chief secretary Manoj Kumar Singh said UP is recognised as the agricultural powerhouse of India, contributing 20 percent of the country’s food production.
“UP is the only state where 75 percent of land is dedicated to agriculture, making efficient irrigation essential. Logistics plays a critical role, and we plan to start using cargo planes for logistics to save time and improve farm market access,” he said.
Netherlands vice minister of agriculture Jan Kees Goet praised India’s progress over the past decade, particularly in agriculture and manufacturing.
UP agriculture principal secretary Ravindra Kumar emphasised the importance of investment in agriculture, and stressed improving the supply chain for seeds, fertilisers, and logistics.