Reiterating the Bharatiya Janata Party government’s commitment to double the income of farmers, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that farmers should not remain producers but become entrepreneurs and the state government was working in this direction.
“The government will provide all help to farmers through the departments concerned, right from arranging seeds to marketing the produce. For this, farmers who have traditional knowledge should also take up the latest technology to learn about when, what and how much crop is to be grown. The farmers should be told about the quality of soil and the type of soil needed for a particular crop,” Yogi Adityanath said while inaugurating the fifth edition of Million Farmers’ School at his official residence in Lucknow on Monday.
“Agriculture universities and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK) will play an important role in this. A total of 20 new KVKs are being established in the state, creasing their number to 79,” the Chief Minister said.
Yogi said the income of farmers of the state could increase manifold by making awareness a basic mantra.
“The objective of Million Farmers’ School is the same. The government is working towards making farmers entrepreneurs from producers. Loan waivers, hike in minimum support price including new crops in its ambit, record purchase of paddy, wheat and cane, online and time-bound payment, Pradhan Mantri Sinchai Yojana, Kisan Samman Yojana, improvement in Mandi Act and expansion of irrigation area are part of this effort. On account of these, UP is number one in the country in food production,” he said.
The Chief Minister said that the state had the most fertile land in the world, abundant water resources and labour and diversified agricultural climate.
“Awareness can help increase the earnings of farmers. Considering the importance of irrigation in agriculture, our government focused on this issue after coming to power. Irrigation projects that were stalled for decades (Baan Sagar, Saryu Nahar, Arjun Sahayak, Madhya Ganga Nahar) will be completed and by December 2019, around 17 lakh hectares of additional area will be irrigated,” the Chief Minister said.
Yogi further said, “Farmers can use sprinkler and drip irrigation techniques which are less expensive and use little water. The government is providing 80-90 per cent subsidy on this. The farmers should be apprised of its benefits and the facilities provided by the government.”
The Chief Minister said that Agriculture department should prepare a model of organic farming. “Under the pilot project, first make a few blocks as models and later take up districts. Help farmers in every way possible. Also tell them that stubble in fields is not a waste but wealth. Farmers should also be told the method to change it into wealth,” he said.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister also released a ‘Kisan Pustika’ and launched Million Farmers’ School app. He also handed over the keys of tractors to women farmers.
Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi and other ministers, Chief Secretary and other officials were present on the occasion.