&w=3840&q=100)
UP targets 12% rise in kharif output to boost farm income, food security
Uttar Pradesh sets a target of over 29 mt kharif crop output in 2025 with expanded acreage, farm pond creation, and focus on oilseeds and maize to boost farmer income
Virendra Singh Rawat Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh is targeting a 12 per cent increase in kharif crop production to over 29 million tonnes (mt) in the 2025 session as part of the Yogi Adityanath government's push to enhance farm income and strengthen food security.
The state's kharif acreage is also expected to rise — from 10.38 million hectares last year to more than 10.6 million hectares in the upcoming sowing season starting June.
'The state is focusing on boosting the production of key cash crops, such as oilseeds and maize, to improve farmer incomes,' a senior official said.
To ensure better acreage and yields, the official said the government would support farmers through improved crop planning, promotion of maize, oilseeds, and paddy, and by constructing 8,500 farm ponds for water conservation.
Farm ponds are small reservoirs that capture rainwater, supporting irrigation, livestock, and fisheries.
Uttar Pradesh has emerged as a top performer in agriculture in recent years, driven by farmer-friendly policies and advances in agri-tech.
The state's total crop output (kharif, rabi, and zaid combined) rose from 55.7 mt in 2016–17 to 66.9 mt in 2023–24. Foodgrain productivity also improved from 27 to 31 quintals per hectare.
In 2024, UP topped the national chart by producing 40 mt of fruits and vegetables.
To promote sustainable agriculture, natural farming practices are being adopted across 85,710 hectares in 49 districts. Cow-based natural farming has also been implemented on 23,500 hectares in the Bundelkhand region.
In 2024–25, the government distributed 0.66 mt of high-quality seeds and 9.5 mt of fertilisers.
The state's major agricultural initiative, 'UP AGREES', which was launched in partnership with the World Bank, is also supporting farmers in 21 districts of Purvanchal (Eastern UP) and seven districts of Bundelkhand.
In India, kharif crops are sown during the rainy season (June–July) and harvested in autumn (September–October). The other main cropping seasons are rabi (winter crops) and zaid (short-duration crops between rabi and kharif).
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Launch crackdown on shell, fake firms: U.P. CM to officials
LUCKNOW Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday directed officials to launch a stringent crackdown on shell companies and fraudulently registered firms, warning that any misuse of facilities meant for genuine traders was 'unforgivable'. Chairing a high-level review meeting of the state tax department here, he said tax evasion was a national crime that directly hindered development plans and welfare schemes. Yogi emphasised transparency, technological integration and strict enforcement to strengthen revenue systems. 'GST is a consumer-based tax system, and densely populated regions must reflect proportionate revenue. Underperformance in such areas is unacceptable,' the CM said. He instructed officials to prepare a special report on zones lagging behind headquarters-level collection benchmarks and submit it to the government for further action. Asserting that fraudulent registrations compromise the rights of honest taxpayers, the CM ordered that all newly registered firms undergo on-site verification. He said that any suspicious firms under the state GST regime should be thoroughly investigated with registration cancellations and FIRs in confirmed cases. Yogi also called for coordination with the Centre for cancellation of fake firms registered under the central GST. Officials informed the CM that GST and VAT collections for April and May had reached ₹18,161.59 crore—just over 10% of the ₹1,75,725 crore annual target for FY 2025–26. While he appreciated progress, the CM pushed for accelerated efforts to meet the full-year target. Yogi lauded 14 zones, including both Lucknow zones, Ayodhya, Bareilly, Agra, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Meerut, Jhansi and Saharanpur, for achieving 60% or more of their targets. However, he expressed dissatisfaction with low-performing zones like Varanasi-I, Prayagraj, Kanpur-II, Etawah, Aligarh, and Moradabad, where collections were under 50%, and ordered an immediate review. The CM also instructed additional, joint and deputy commissioners to directly interact with traders in these underperforming regions to promote compliance and strengthen trust in the tax system. 'Revenue is not just a number—it is the foundation of development,' the CM said, urging officials to carry out their duties with both accountability and sensitivity.
India Gazette
2 hours ago
- India Gazette
UP CM Adityanath highlights farmer-centric initiatives at Kisan Samman ceremony
Auraiya (Uttar Pradesh) [India], June 8 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday addressed the Kisan Samman Samaroh in Auraiya, highlighting the government's efforts to support farmers. He emphasised that farmers have become a crucial part of the government's political agenda since 2014 thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiatives. Adityanath did an aerial survey of the maize crop on his way from Lucknow to Auraiya. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, while addressing the Kisan Samman Samaroh, said, 'You must have seen for the first time in 2014 that the farmer who provides food can also become a part of the political agenda of a government, when PM Modi started the Soil Health Card Scheme'. He highlighted various initiatives of the central government to secure farmers' future - Soil Health Card Scheme; Prime Minister's Agricultural Irrigation Scheme; Prime Minister's Agricultural Insurance Scheme against crop failures and Prime Minister's Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme, 12 crore farmers nationwide benefit from this scheme, receiving financial support. ' After the Soil Health Card, the Prime Minister's Agricultural Irrigation Scheme and then the Prime Minister's Agricultural Insurance Scheme were implemented and the Prime Minister's Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme was implemented,' said the UP CM. The government's efforts have shown positive results, with PM Kisan Samman Nidhi emerging as the world's largest direct benefit transfer scheme. Over Rs 3.25 lakh crore have been transferred into farmers' bank accounts, benefiting crores of farmers. '12 crore farmers in the country benefit from the Prime Minister's Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme. This double-engine government is also working towards making the future of its farmers beautiful and secure in the state. When our government came in 2017, farmers were committing suicide. There were no facilities anywhere,' he added. Yogi Adityanath also said that in 2017, the government implemented a Rs 36,000 crore loan waiver program for 86 lakh farmers/ 'In 2017, when we came, first of all, we took forward the loan waiver program of Rs 36000 crore for 86 lakh farmers, and after the loan waiver, we resorted to the Prime Minister's Agricultural Irrigation Scheme to develop the irrigation capacity in the state ', said the UP CM. (ANI)
India Gazette
2 hours ago
- India Gazette
"Double engine govt is working towards making farmer's future beautiful and secure": UP CM Yogi Adityanath
Auraiya (Uttar Pradesh) [India], June 8 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday highlighted that the 'double engine' government is working towards making the future of its farmers beautiful and secure in the state. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, while addressing the Kisan Samman Samaroh, said that after the NDA government came to power in 2014, farmers became one of the 'agendas' for this government. The Uttar Pradesh government pointed out that 12 crore farmers in the country are getting the benefit of the Prime Minister's Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme. 'You must have seen for the first time in 2014 that the farmer who provides food can also become a part of the political agenda of a government. When PM Modi started the Soil Health Card Scheme... After the Soil Health Card, the Prime Minister's Agricultural Irrigation Scheme and then the Prime Minister's Agricultural Insurance Scheme were implemented and the Prime Minister's Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme was implemented,' he said. '12 crore farmers in the country are getting the benefit of the Prime Minister's Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme... This double engine government is also working towards making the future of its farmers beautiful and secure in the state.' CM Yogi highlighted. Further stressing on the BJP government's efforts to mitigate farmer suicide in the state, CM Yogi said, 'When our government came in 2017, farmers were committing suicide... There were no facilities anywhere. In 2017, when we came, first of all we took forward the loan waiver program of Rs 36000 crore of 86 lakh farmers and after the loan waiver, we resorted to the Prime Minister's Agricultural Irrigation Scheme to develop the irrigation capacity in the state ...' Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath conducted a high-level review of the State Tax Department in Lucknow and directed the officials to adopt the policy of transparency, technical efficiency and strict enforcement in tax collection. CM Yogi directed to take action against shell companies and fake registered companies. CM Yogi Adityanath met with members of the 16th Finance Commission in Lucknow on Wednesday. The state's Finance Minister, Suresh Khanna, said earlier that CM Yogi laid out several demands in front of the Finance Commission. This also included a demand to increase the state's share in central taxes. Khanna earlier told ANI, '...Some demands were made by the Chief Minister for the state today (Wednesday). Instead of the 41 per cent share we received so far, we should get 50 per cent. At the same time, Uttar Pradesh should not get less than 20 per cent in central taxes. This is our demand.' 'At the 16th Finance Commission meeting, the Uttar Pradesh government presented the achievements of 8 years. Based on the successes, it seemed clear that the Finance Commission was satisfied with our progress, and Uttar Pradesh will get a good recommendation and will take a long leap forward successfully...,' the deputy CM remarked. (ANI)
