Finance Minister Suresh Khanna highlighted the government’s dedicated efforts towards uplifting farmers, who are the backbone of the nation’s food security.
He also informed the Uttar Pradesh assembly about the government’s continuous initiatives to advance the interests and welfare of farmers. Additionally, he outlined the proposed schemes and the allocated budget for farmers, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to their prosperity.
He pointed out that under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, about Rs 79,500 crore was transferred to about three crore farmers through DBT. Besides, under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, about Rs 496 crore was paid to about 10 lakh insured farmers in the financial year 2024-2025 and under the PM Kusum Yojana, 22,089 solar pumps of various capacities were installed on farmers’ fields in the year 2024.
He pointed out that the Mukhyamantri Krishak Durghatna Kalyan Yojana, implemented on September 14, 2019, provides aid for farmers in cases of accidental death or disability while the escrow account mechanism, introduced in 2017, ensures timely sugarcane payments to farmers by preventing fund diversion in sugar mills.
The present government has made a record sugarcane price payment of about Rs 2.73,000 crore to about 46 lakh sugarcane farmers since 2017, he said, adding that this sugarcane price payment is Rs 59,143 crore, more than the combined sugarcane price of the previous 22 years.
With the average sugarcane productivity increasing from 72 tons per hectare to 85 tons per hectare, farmers’ income increased by Rs 43,364 per hectare at an average rate of Rs 370 per quintal and for this, the scientists, students of research institutes, and the hardworking farmers deserve congratulations, he assed.
A free minikit distribution programme is being conducted to increase the area coverage, production and productivity of pulses and oilseed crops in the state.
A provision of Rs 50 crore is proposed for both schemes.
Under the UP Seed Self-Reliance Policy 2024, the Rs 251 core Seed Park Development Project aims to boost certified seed production.
Besides, Rs 124 crore is proposed for statewide natural farming under National Mission on Natural Farming Scheme, while Rs 509 crore has been allocated for solar pumps under PM Kusum Yojana to support farmers; Rs 200 crore has been allocated for agricultural skill and production boost, plus Rs 200 crore for WB-assisted UP AGREES Project.
Five agricultural and technology universities have been established in the state to maintain dynamism in agricultural education, research and extension work and provide effective results to the farmers. Twenty new agricultural science centres have been established in the state. A total of 89 agricultural science centres are operating in the state.
Besides, Rs 100 crore is proposed to establish Mahatma Buddha Agricultural and Technology University in Kushinagar district and Rs 25 crore is proposed for research programmes in agricultural and technology universities while Rs 86 crore is proposed for various works in agricultural universities/colleges established in the state.