**Uttar Pradesh Aims to Become a Global Food Basket, Targets $1 Trillion Economy by 2029–30: CM Yogi Adityanath**
*Varanasi, October 6:*
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced on Monday that Uttar Pradesh is steadfastly moving forward with the resolve to become a global food basket. This ambitious goal is set to play a pivotal role in achieving the target of a $1 trillion state economy by 2029–30.
The Chief Minister was addressing the Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) Conclave held at the International Rice Research Institute’s (IRRI) South Asia Regional Centre in Varanasi.
**Boosting Agricultural Output with Quality Seeds and Technology**
Yogi Adityanath emphasized that with timely provision of quality seeds and advanced technology, Uttar Pradesh has the potential to produce three times its current agricultural output. To further promote research-based agricultural growth, Centers of Excellence will be established in collaboration with international institutions such as IRRI and the International Potato Center (CIP).
Highlighting Uttar Pradesh’s agricultural potential, he noted that while India has 170 million hectares of cultivable land—with 60% irrigated—Uttar Pradesh contributes 21% of the country’s food grains despite comprising only 11% of the land area and 17% of the population.
“Uttar Pradesh leads in the cultivation of paddy, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes, pulses, and oilseeds,” the Chief Minister stated.
**Transformative Changes in Agriculture Under PM Narendra Modi**
CM Yogi Adityanath highlighted the revolutionary changes that have taken place in the farm sector over the past 11 years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. Key initiatives linking farmers to better resources and benefits include Soil Health Cards, crop insurance, PM Krishi Sinchai Yojana, Minimum Support Price (MSP) at 1.5 times the cost, and the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi.
**Honoring Uttar Pradesh’s Rich Agricultural Heritage**
Referring to the state’s rich agricultural heritage, the Chief Minister mentioned Kala Namak rice, which was offered by Lord Buddha 3,000 years ago and is now being promoted globally as Lord Buddha’s Prasad. He also pointed out that rice cultivation in Uttar Pradesh has an 8,000-year-old history, with ancient inscriptions from Thanjavur and Ramanathapuram underscoring India’s advanced agricultural traditions.
Since independence, Uttar Pradesh’s food grain production has surged from 11.77 million tonnes to 60 million tonnes, with the cultivated area expanding from 17 million hectares to 24 million hectares.
**New Initiatives Announced**
Yogi Adityanath announced the establishment of a 250-acre seed park in Lucknow, named after former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh. This park will focus on producing improved seeds suited to climate change. Additionally, he expressed hope for the early establishment of an International Potato Center in Agra.
**Innovations and Technology Demonstrations at the Conclave**
During the conclave, innovative technologies such as a battery-operated e-seeder and a precision hill seeder developed by IRRI and JNVV were unveiled. Publications on direct seeding of rice, zero-tillage wheat, and the Samriddhi Rice Network were also released.
The Chief Minister urged scientists to ensure that research is taken “from labs to land,” so that new agricultural technologies directly benefit farmers.
**Current Cultivation Statistics**
Uttar Pradesh currently cultivates:
– 7 million hectares of rice,
– 10 million hectares of wheat,
– 2.9 million hectares of sugarcane,
along with extensive areas under pulses and oilseed crops.
**Attendees**
The conclave was attended by State Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi, State Minister Ravindra Jaiswal, Dayashankar Mishra Dayalu, Baldev Singh Aulakh, Principal Secretary Agriculture Ravindra Kumar, DG Eri Yvonne Pinto, DG CIP Dr. Simon Heck, Sri Lankan Agriculture Secretary DB Wickremesinghe, Director ISARC Dr. Sudhanshu Singh, along with numerous agricultural scientists and public representatives.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/uttar-pradesh/up-to-become-global-food-basket-agriculture-key-to-achieving-1-trillion-economy-goal-by-202930-cm-yogi
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