Lucknow: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath emphasized the need to enhance agricultural self-reliance, pointing out vulnerabilities in global food and energy supply chains. Speaking at the 6th Uttar Pradesh Agricultural Science Congress, the chief minister highlighted uncertainties in international supply chains, fluctuating fertiliser prices, and volatile petroleum product availability as risks of relying on external sources.
“In such circumstances, a country like India, which is heavily dependent on agriculture, must strengthen its traditional farming methods by integrating modern technology,” he said. Yogi stressed the importance of establishing a strong local ecosystem that covers production, processing, and distribution to mitigate the impact of global crises, promote higher farmer incomes, and ensure economic stability.
He outlined a roadmap for the sector, stating that agriculture should progress “from production to productivity, from productivity to profitability, and ultimately to prosperity,” directly linking farmer welfare to the vision of a self-reliant developed India. The chief minister also highlighted Uttar Pradesh’s agricultural performance, noting that despite having only 11% of the country’s cultivable land, the state supports 16%-17% of India’s population and contributes nearly 21% to total foodgrain production.
Yogi attributed this success to policy interventions, scientific practices, and farmers’ efforts, mentioning that the state’s agricultural growth rate has increased from 8% to around 18%. Reflecting on India’s historical economic strength, he mentioned that the country once held a significant share in the global economy due to its robust agricultural base, where farmers played roles as artisans and entrepreneurs. However, over time, this ecosystem grew weaker, limiting farmers to raw material producers.
The chief minister highlighted the importance of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, drones, and satellite systems in revolutionizing agriculture. These tools, he said, can facilitate real-time crop monitoring, disease detection, precision spraying, and weather-based decision-making. He also advocated for natural farming as a sustainable solution that reduces input costs while maintaining soil health and ecological balance.
Yogi also discussed market reforms, emphasizing digital agriculture platforms and initiatives like ‘One Nation, One Mandi’, which aim to improve market access and reduce mandi fees to help farmers secure better prices. Calling for a shift in approach, he proposed transitioning from the traditional ‘lab to land’ approach to a ‘land is lab’ model, encouraging direct collaboration between farmers and scientists in the fields to drive innovation.
Regarding reforms in the sugarcane sector, Yogi mentioned that payment delays have significantly decreased, with 107 out of the state’s 122 sugar mills now settling dues within a week. He also highlighted the expansion of irrigation coverage to 85%-86% of agricultural land, supported by projects like the Saryu Canal National Project, which has brought irrigation to nearly 14 lakh hectares.
In a veiled critique of previous governments, the chief minister stated that the agriculture sector before 2017 was marked by inefficiency, weak procurement systems, and delayed payments. He affirmed that the current government has ensured procurement at Minimum Support Price and direct payments through DBT, restoring farmers’ trust.
During the event, Yogi honored 15 scientists under the Uttar Pradesh Krishi Vaigyanik Samman Yojana 2025-26, along with 30 scientists from the Uttar Pradesh Academy of Agricultural Sciences. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Dr. Satya Prakash of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut.
