| Work Detail |
The Uttar Pradesh government is poised to launch a ?4,000 crore agriculture business and entrepreneurship project, funded by the World Bank, aimed at boosting rural incomes. This initiative will benefit farmers, farm groups, and agro micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across 28 districts in eastern Uttar Pradesh and the Bundelkhand region.
Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh revealed that the project is expected to assist around one million farmers, including 30% rural women involved in agricultural self-help groups (SHGs). Financial aid will be provided to 100,000 fisherfolk, and 500 farmers will be selected for international training in advanced farming techniques.
The project is anticipated to increase per capita income in the affected districts and improve the credit deposit (CD) ratio. It includes investments in high-yielding seed varieties and farm infrastructure, development of a digital platform for agriculture, and support for farmers to engage in the carbon credit market.
Additionally, the project will focus on creating dedicated clusters for crops such as groundnut, chili, and peas, aimed at enhancing farm output, food processing, and exports.
Recently, a World Bank delegation briefed Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on the proposed project. Yogi highlighted Uttar Pradeshs potential to become a major agricultural hub due to its vast agricultural land, manpower availability, water resources, and diverse climatic zones.
In the next 3-4 years, Uttar Pradesh plans to increase its farm exports from ?20,000 crore to ?50,000 crore by enhancing productivity, food processing, and revitalizing the agricultural value chain. The state is also considering establishing horticultural commodity boards similar to the Spices Board of India to promote and boost shipments of horticultural products. Uttar Pradesh cultivates a range of horticultural crops over approximately 2.1 million hectares. |
