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| Table of Content |
| Commercialization of Agriculture in Uttar Pradesh Production of Agricultural Crops in UP Challenges & Management Strategies |
Trend: Shift from “Subsistence Farming” to “Market-Driven Agriculture,” “Agri-Exports,” and “Tech-Integration.”
A. Policy Framework & Infrastructure
- UP Food Processing Industry Policy 2023:
- Incentives: Capital subsidy (up to 35%), interest subvention, and stamp duty exemption.
- Focus: Converting “Surplus Production” into “Value Added Products” (e.g., Potato to Chips in Agra/Farrukhabad).
- Agri-Export Zones (AEZs):
- Existing Zones: Lucknow (Mango), Saharanpur (Mango), Agra (Potato), and Aligarh (Meat).
- New Focus: Developing Varanasi as a hub for vegetable exports to Gulf countries via LBSI Airport.
- Mandi Reforms: Integration of UP Mandis with e-NAM (Electronic National Agriculture Market) to ensure transparency and better price realization.
B. One District One Product (ODOP) – Agriculture
- Concept: Branding and marketing specific crops globally.
- Siddharthnagar: Kala Namak Rice (Buddha’s Gift).
- Pratapgarh: Aonla (Indian Gooseberry).
- Kaushambi: Banana.
- Gonda/Balrampur: Maize & Pulses value addition.
- Unity Malls: Showcasing these agri-products in upcoming malls in Lucknow, Agra, and Varanasi.
C. Contract Farming & FPOs
- Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs):
- Target: Setting up one FPO in every block (826 blocks).
- Role: Collective bargaining power for small farmers to buy inputs cheap and sell produce dear.
- Corporate Tie-ups: Pepsico (Potato in Mathura/Kosi Kalan) and ITC (Wheat) engaging directly with farmers.
Current Affairs Linkage :
- Draft Export Policy 2025-30: UP is formulating a new policy targeting ₹50 Billion in exports, with a special focus on processed food and organic produce.
- Namo Drone Didi Scheme: In 2024-25, UP actively distributed drones to Women SHGs to offer “Drone-as-a-Service” for spraying nano-urea, commercializing farm services.
Trend: “Crop Diversification,” “Ethanol Blending,” and “Record Production.”
A. Major Field Crops (Status: #1 in Food Grains)
- Sugarcane (The Cash Cow):
- Status: UP is India’s largest producer.
- Ethanol Push: Transition from “Sugar Bowl” to “Energy Bowl”; massive diversion of cane juice to Ethanol to meet 20% blending targets.
- Tech: Use of “Panchamrut Yojana” to reduce input costs.
- Wheat & Rice:
- Wheat: Top producer; focus on “Bio-fortified” varieties.
- Rice: Shift towards Hybrid Paddy and export-quality Basmati in Western UP.
- Pulses & Oilseeds:
- Mission Mode: Special campaigns to increase area under Mustard and Masoor in Bundelkhand (dryland farming).
B. Horticulture (The Growth Engine)
- Fruits:
- Mango: Malihabadi Dasheri and Langra (Varanasi).
- Guava: Allahabad Safeda (GI Tag potential).
- Vegetables:
- Potato: UP produces ~35% of India’s potato; major belts in Agra, Farrukhabad, and Kannauj.
- Mentha Oil: UP produces ~90% of India’s Mentha (Mint) oil, largely exported (Barabanki, Budaun).
C. Emerging & Exotic Crops
- Dragon Fruit & Strawberries: Successful cultivation in the arid Bundelkhand region (Jhansi/Chitrakoot) due to the “Strawberry Festival” initiatives.
- Makhana: Expansion of cultivation from Bihar border districts to other water-logged areas.
Current Affairs Linkage :
- Digital Crop Survey (e-Padtal): Started in late 2024, this initiative aims to create a real-time digital database of crops sown in every plot, enabling accurate production forecasting and claim settlement.
- Record Horticulture Output: In 2025, UP recorded an all-time high horticulture production of over 53 Million Tonnes, driven by high-density planting of Guava and Mango.
A. Challenges
- Stray Cattle Menace: Impacting crop production in rural areas (Major political & economic issue).
- Fragmented Landholdings: Average size <0.73 ha, limiting mechanization.
- Post-Harvest Losses: Lack of cold storage for perishable crops like Potato and Tomato (price crash cycles).
B. Strategies
- Solar Fencing: Subsidies for wire-fencing under Mukhya Mantri Khet Suraksha Yojana.
- Farm Machinery Banks: Establishment of Custom Hiring Centers (CHCs) for small farmers to rent tractors/drones.
