Need for accelerating research, innovation in agriculture: UP CM Adityanath

Indian Express

3 days ago

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday highlighted agriculture as Uttar Pradesh's largest employment sector, supporting nearly three crore farmers.
Adityanath was speaking at an event to mark the 36th Foundation Day of UPCAR (UP Council of Agricultural Research). He stressed that agriculture should drive prosperity, not migration, and called for greater adoption of innovation and research to transform the sector. He noted that the MSME sector follows agriculture in employment, engaging 1.65 crore people.
He addressed a national seminar titled 'Developed Agriculture – Developed Uttar Pradesh @ 2047'. He also felicitated distinguished agricultural scientists, young innovators and Farmer Producer Organisations for their contributions to the sector.
The CM reaffirmed the state's commitment to contribute to the nation's goal of becoming a $5-trillion economy by aiming to build a $1-trillion economy in Uttar Pradesh by 2029.
He said, 'We have vast, fertile land and abundant water resources. UP might be the only region in the world where over 86 per cent of agricultural land is irrigated.'
The state also has a strong network of agricultural institutions, including four state-run agricultural universities, with a fifth under development, as well as centrally run universities and over 15 premier agricultural research institutes, Adityanath pointed out. In addition, 89 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) are actively working to disseminate knowledge and technologies to farmers.
Despite these resources, the CM acknowledged a concerning gap: 'Only 25–30 per cent of farmers in the state are currently able to adopt and implement scientific research in their farming practices'. He called for bridging this gap to ensure that the benefits of research and innovation truly reach the grassroots.
The CM highlighted that while Uttar Pradesh is home to 16 per cent of the country's population, it holds only 11 per cent of India's cultivable land. Remarkably, this land produces over 20 per cent of the nation's food grains.
He added, 'The state holds immense potential in agriculture, horticulture, and vegetable production. To unlock this, there is a pressing need to accelerate research tailored to local climatic zones and natural ecosystems.'
The CM noted that the state has formulated a Vision 2047 action plan, and stressed the need for clear short- and medium-term milestones — by 2027, 2029, and 2035 — to ensure visible progress. The CM also called on agricultural universities, research bodies, and Krishi Vigyan Kendras to play an active role in achieving these goals.
The CM recalled the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in collaboration with Israel, where the training and dedication of Indian scientists complemented Israeli technical expertise. He questioned the limited expansion of such models and called for renewed efforts. 'If Israel can achieve this, why can't our agricultural universities replicate and expand it?' he asked. He lamented that farmers are still being forced to migrate due to a lack of progress in agriculture and stressed the urgency of reversing this trend.
Addressing climate change challenges, he noted that while heavy rains were expected during this season, 15-16 districts of UP have received below-average rainfall, while some neighbouring states are experiencing excessive rainfall. 'How prepared are we to deal with such fluctuations?' he asked.
Adityanath also pointed out that a delay of just one month in sowing, coupled with the use of old seed varieties, could result in a 30 per cent reduction in yield. He asked whether farmers had access to late-sowing seed varieties and whether they were properly trained and guided. 'If Krishi Vigyan Kendras, agricultural universities, and research centers don't offer timely and credible demonstrations, farmers won't be convinced,' he said. 'If they are still relying on outdated methods, it is because we have failed to connect them with modern techniques and information.'