With the aim to introduce new technology in the agriculture sector and make agricultural products globally competitive, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed setting up of a tissue culture laboratory at Acharya Narendra Dev University of Agriculture and Technology in Ayodhya.

The objective of the tissue culture technology is to make quality planting material and planting of quality disease-free horticulture crops. The laboratory will be spread on a spacious 3-hectare campus. UP Rajya Krishi Utpadan Mandi Parishad will finance the project.

Yogi Adityanath on Monday presided over the 168th meeting of the Board of Directors of the UP Rajya Krishi Utpadan Mandi Parishad. He issued several directives for ensuring protection of the interest of the farmers.

The chief minister said the efforts being made by the Mandi Parishad in the interests of the farmers were commendable. He said there was no impact on the income of the agricultural mandis even after reduction of the mandi fee on several agricultural crops.

Against an income of Rs 614 crore in the financial year 2021-22,  Mandi Parishad garnered revenue of Rs 1,520.95 crore in 2022-23. Besides, Rs 251.61 crore revenue has already been collected in the first two months of the current financial year 2023-24. The increase in revenue collection from mandis is commendable, even though the mandi fee is minimal.

Yogi Adityanath said the CM Farmers’ Scholarship Scheme was proving very useful. Presently Rs 3,000 monthly scholarship is being provided to the students of agriculture and home science in five universities and 23 colleges. Agriculture and Technology University, Banda, Aligarh Muslim University, Rani Lakshmibai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi and Bundelkhand University, Jhansi and 37 other colleges should also be included in this so that more youths get the benefit of the scheme, he said.

The chief minister said that outlets of organic and natural products were currently established at the divisional headquarters and they need to be extended up to the district headquarters.

“Outlets should also be opened in agriculture produce market committees. Set up an organic/natural market. Lab testing is essential for the verification, branding of organic/natural products of our farmers. Although laboratories are operated by the Food Safety and Drug Administration in Lucknow, Meerut, Varanasi and Jhansi, no lab is operated in the agricultural universities of the state. Therefore, testing labs should be set up by the Mandi Parishad in all the four state agricultural universities of Uttar Pradesh,” he said..

Keeping in view the convenience of the farmers, the state government has constructed a large number of rural haats and modern farmers’ markets. New ‘Haat Paiths’ and Kisan Mandis should be built in accordance with the local needs. Keep them well-maintained and there should be space for street vendors there, he said.

The chief minister said there should be proper arrangement of lighting in the mandis and measures to prevent water-logging should be taken. “Farmers’ convenience should be given top priority, and effective measures should be taken to protect crops. Make adequate arrangements for toilets/drinking water,” he said.

The chief minister said that it was encouraging that hostels were being constructed in agricultural universities with the help of Mandi Parishad. He said the construction of these hostels should be completed in a time-bound manner, keeping in view the quality and these under-construction hostels should be inspected by the agriculture minister.

The chief minister said that the buildings of the Agricultural Produce Market Committees were in bad shape and unusable in various districts. He said a comprehensive action plan should be prepared for the systematic use of this land/building. He said the strengthening of the existing infrastructure of agriculture mandis would add to their income.

Yogi Adityanath said several policy initiatives were being taken by the state government to promote agriculture and food processing. He said planned work was also being done to encourage natural farming.

“An Agri Mall is being set up in Lucknow to ensure that the farmers get a fair price for their produce, branding of the product, and proper market,” he said.

The chief minister directed the Mandi Parishad officials to expedite action in this regard. He said farmers would be able to sell their fruits and vegetables directly in Agri Mall.

The chief minister said to make the office block established by Mandi Parishad at Navi Mumbai in 2006 for export promotion more useful, it should be linked with the MSME department.