Big Farming Event in Uttar Pradesh with Governor Acharya Devvrat and Minister Surya Pratap Shahi
A regional consultation on natural farming and agricultural science will be held at the Centrum Hotel in Uttar Pradesh on July 19. Around 500 representatives from 12 states and union territories, including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, and Chandigarh, will participate.
Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat will be the chief guest. Uttar Pradesh’s Agriculture Minister, Surya Pratap Shahi, shared this information during a press conference. He said, “The program will include officials from Central and State Governments, union territories, vice-chancellors and deans of 15 Agricultural Universities, scientists from 180 Krishi Vigyan Kendras, and leading natural farmers.”
The event will feature stalls showcasing natural farming techniques and a dialogue between scientists and farmers. Acharya Devvrat will highlight special efforts in natural farming in Kurukshetra.
On July 20, a state-level natural farming workshop will be held at Acharya Narendra Dev Kumarganj University in Ayodhya. This workshop will include scientists from 25 Krishi Vigyan Kendras in eastern Uttar Pradesh, nodal officers of natural farming, vice chancellors of agricultural universities, deans, and approximately 250 farmers.
Minister Shahi announced that the Yogi government is prioritizing natural farming. A natural farming lab will be established at Rani Lakshmibai Central Agricultural University in Jhansi, and international-level labs will be set up at Banda Agricultural University with Rs 25 crore funding. These labs will conduct tests related to natural farming and are expected to become operational within one to one and a half years.
A program focusing on health and dietary traditions of Amrit Kaal India will be held at Acharya Narendra Dev Agriculture University on July 19-20. The event will discuss achieving better health through millets (Shrianna), highlighting research by Karnataka scientist Padmashree Khadar Vali. Attendees will include former Rajya Sabha MP RK Sinha, agricultural scientists, Shrianna farmers, FPOs, and processors. A Shrianna workshop will also be held at Banda Agriculture University on July 26.
Minister Shahi highlighted the Yogi government’s initiatives to boost pulses and oilseeds cultivation. Oilseed production increased from 12.40 lakh metric tons in 2016-17 to 28.16 lakh metric tons last year. Pulse production grew from 23.94 lakh metric tons to 32.53 lakh metric tons. Despite these improvements, the country imports oilseeds worth Rs 1 lakh 30 thousand crore and pulses worth Rs 25-30 thousand crore annually. The Yogi government aims to make Uttar Pradesh self-sufficient in producing pulses and oilseeds.
The Kharif plantation and sowing program is underway, with crops planted in 34.75 lakh hectares this year. The target is 102 lakh hectares, and approximately 35 percent of this area has already been covered, compared to 29.63 percent last year. An action plan was developed and implemented on schedule for the farmers, and awareness was raised through Kisan Pathshaala programs.
