Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that his government was committed to the development of the agriculture sector as farmers were at the top of the agenda of government’s policies.
Inaugurating a sugar mill in Bijnore, Yogi said that the BJP government was aware of the plight of farmers and, therefore, had taken systematic steps to ensure development of the farming community.
“This is the first state government which has taken the decision of waiving of crop loan of farmers. Over 86 lakh small and marginal farmers stand benefited by the decision. This was the promise we made to the farmers during elections. In our first Cabinet meeting, we announced it and implemented the same in a couple of months,” Yogi said.
“The volume of loan was huge and around Rs 36,000 crore. People asked how can this government do itIJ We did not impose any tax and cleared the loans from our own resources. We managed money by cutting down on wasteful expenditures,” he said, adding that two phases of loan waiver were over in which over 60 per cent marginal and small farmers were benefited.
Talking about cane farmers, Yogi said that his government had cleared dues worth Rs 27,000. “This is a record for which Cane department deserves credit. Even for potato farmers, we have announced Minimum Support Price, which was announced for the first time by any government in the state,” said the CM.
“Within six months, our government ensured effective operation of wheat purchase centres under which 37 lakh metric tonnes of wheat was purchased while during last year, merely 7 lakh metric tonnes of wheat was purchased. Similarly, we opened paddy purchase centres where farmers are directly selling their produce and payments are transferred directly to their accounts,” he said, adding that the target of paddy has been set at 35 lakh metric tonnes.
Yogi inaugurated a distillery at Najibabad Sahkari Chinni Mill and announced the setting up of power project in the mill. He also announced that his government would provide jobs to over 4.5 lakh youths.
“The government will soon start recruitments for police and teachers which will be made in a transparent manner where only deserving candidates will be able to make the cut,” the CM stressed.
Talking about the achievements of his government, Yogi said that 11 lakh BPl families were provided houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and free power connections were given to 20 lakh people. “What did previous government doIJ It gave houses and free electricity to people of their own caste,” the CM said.
Cane Development Minister Suresh Rana said that the government had ensured quick payment of cane dues. State BJP president Mahendra Nath Pandey also spoke on this occasion.