Early Times Report
LUCKNOW, Dec 30: For the first time, scientists moved out of the laboratory and reached the land, marking a historic shift in agricultural outreach in Uttar Pradesh. This unprecedented effort reflected the reality that scientific knowledge did not remain confined to labs but directly benefitted farmers in their fields.
Under the double engine government, the 'Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan' was launched, during which direct dialogue was established with 23.30 lakh farmers across 14,170 villages of Uttar Pradesh, ensuring that policy, research, and innovation reached the grassroots. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath made a major announcement for farmers, stating that loans would now be available from LDB at an interest rate of just six percent. This decision provided significant relief to small and marginal farmers and strengthened their access to affordable institutional credit.
In another landmark step, sugarcane farmers received a big gift from the Yogi government as the sugarcane price was increased by ?30 per quintal, reinforcing the government's commitment to enhancing farm incomes. Important infrastructure initiatives were also taken during the year. In Lucknow's Atari, a Seed Park is being developed in the memory of Bharat Ratna Chaudhary Charan Singh, preserving his legacy and strengthening seed research and development.
In Barabanki, 31 acres of land have been identified for the establishment of a tissue culture laboratory, while in Pilibhit, seven acres of land have been identified for setting up a basmati production and training centre. These initiatives aim to promote advanced seed technology, quality planting material, and farmer training.
For the first time, historic seed distribution was carried out, surpassing old records and setting new benchmarks in agricultural support. In 2025-26, a total of 11.31 lakh quintals of seeds were distributed to farmers on subsidy, reflecting the government's focus on reducing input costs and increasing productivity. Alongside this, farmers of Uttar Pradesh received Rs 94,668.58 crore under the Kisan Samman Nidhi, providing direct income support and strengthening financial stability at the household level. |
