Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said farmers should adopt new technologies to increase production. At the Agriculture India 2024 program organized in Lucknow, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, ‘Our focus should be on advancing the agriculture sector with advanced technology. Given the multiplicity of agroclimatic zones in the country, each state contributes different experiences. We can learn a lot from each other.
According to a news agency, in the four-day agricultural and technical programme, the Yogi government highlighted the importance of integrating agriculture with business and employing modern technology to increase farmers’ income.
Food grains will remain safe for 6 months without cold storage
In Agriculture India 2024, Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi and Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh collected information about the gamma radiation plant and learned how cereals and fruits will remain safe for more than 6 months without no cold storage. The Agriculture Minister said that based on the MoU of Rs 500 crore signed at the UP Global Investor Summit-2023, POCT Group has set up a gamma radiation plant in Lucknow by investing Rs 200 crore in the first phase. It will soon be inaugurated by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Suggestion to reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers
The Chief Minister said that although the state has 17 per cent of India’s population (25 crore) and only 11 per cent of the country’s cultivable land, it contributes 20 per cent of the total agricultural production. This reflects abundant water resources and fertile lands and can. be used to increase production three to four times. Yogi also highlighted the need to reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers and replace them with natural resources. Ahead of the event, the CM met a delegation led by Netherlands Deputy Agriculture Minister Jan-Kees Goyette and Ambassador to India Marisa Gerards and signed two memorandums of understanding (MoU) with the country.
Each agreement was for cooperation between governments and between companies. By partnering with CII for the event, the Netherlands is an official partner country, while countries such as Australia, Canada, Uganda, Spain and the United Kingdom are also participating along with agriculture experts and stakeholders, the statement said.
In this sense, Goyette said, ‘India’s agricultural sector is full of achievements and immense potential, in which it is a matter of pride for us to participate. There are many challenges around the world, including climate change, that need solutions. We also share our experience and learn a lot from the Indian experience.
CII Chairman and Chairman and Managing Director of ITC Limited Sanjeev Puri described UP as an agricultural powerhouse. He said, ‘CM Yogi has shown a new direction for agriculture. There has been a lot of progress in India’s agricultural sector…India is producing 330 million tonnes of the current 250 million tonnes, but there is still more room for growth.’
