Lucknow, April 8 Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Wednesday that the state has significantly improved its agricultural growth rate over the past nine years, attributing it to sustained policy efforts and better resource utilization.
Addressing the gathering after inaugurating the sixth Uttar Pradesh Agricultural Science Congress-2026 in Lucknow, Adityanath said the state's agricultural growth rate has increased from around eight per cent to 18 per cent during this period (in the past nine years).
Highlighting the state's importance in India's agrarian economy, he said Uttar Pradesh accounts for 16-17 per cent of the country's population and possesses about 11 per cent of its cultivable land, contributing nearly 21 per cent to the nation's total foodgrain production.
He said the state has some of the most fertile land and robust water resources, which, if utilized effectively, can yield significant results.
Attacking previous governments in the state, he said, "Before 2017, the agriculture sector had become a symbol of disorder, unorganized systems, and deep mistrust among farmers. Effective procurement at Minimum Support Price could not be ensured, procurement centers were weak, and middlemen dominated. Farmers faced difficulty in getting fair prices for their produce. Sugarcane farmers had to wait for years for payments, which pushed them into debt."
He said that after 2017, the BJP government prioritized agriculture and implemented transparent, technology-based, and farmer-centric policies.
Procurement at MSP at one-and-a-half times the cost of production was ensured, and payments were made directly through DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer). This increased farmers' confidence and gave agriculture a new identity as a profitable and respectable profession.
The chief minister further added, "Current global conditions have made it clear that self-reliance in agriculture and food security is extremely essential. Disruptions in international supply chains, uncertain availability of petroleum products, and fluctuations in fertilizer prices indicate that dependence on external sources can be risky for the country.
"In such a situation, it has become necessary for an agriculture-based country like India to strengthen its traditional agricultural system and integrate it with modern technology."
He said the time has come to take agriculture from production to productivity, from productivity to profitability, and ultimately from profitability to prosperity.
"The vision of Atmanirbhar Viksit Bharat will be realized only when the farmer becomes prosperous. Increasing production alone is not sufficient, it is necessary to make it profitable and sustainable," he added.
This journey from production to prosperity will determine the path of the future, and Uttar Pradesh is ready to play a leading role in this direction, he said.
The chief minister said the use of artificial intelligence, drones, and satellite technology can give a new direction to agriculture. With sensor-based technology, farmers can obtain data on soil moisture and nutrients and make precise decisions, he said.
"Through AI, real-time analysis of crops, identification of diseases, and production forecasting is possible. Drones enable precise spraying of fertilizers and pesticides, while satellites help monitor weather and land conditions, making agriculture more scientific and effective," he said, adding that to address the challenges of climate change, the use of biotechnology is extremely necessary.
Through this, seed varieties can be developed that are suitable for changing weather and can yield higher production, he said.
Adityanath emphasized shifting from the traditional 'lab to land' model to the concept of 'land is lab'.
He mentioned the reforms in the sugarcane sector, stating that earlier farmers had to wait for years for payments, whereas now out of 122 mills, 107 are making payments within six to seven days.
The state contributes about 55 per cent of the country's total sugarcane production.
The three-day Uttar Pradesh Agricultural Science Congress has been organised by the Uttar Pradesh Council of Agricultural Research (UPCAR) at the Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research.
The theme of this year's congress is Transforming Agriculture for Viksit Krishi Viksit Bharat @2047.
State Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi, Minister of State Baldev Singh Aulakh, UPCAR Chairman Captain (Retd) Vikas Gupta, among others, were present at the inaugural session.