[UPPSC-UP Special Syllabus Decoded] Aquaculture, Viticulture, Sericulture, Floriculture, Horticulture, Arboric culture in up and its impact on development of UP

1. Horticulture (The “Golden Revolution”)

Trend: Shift from “Food Security” to “Nutritional Security” and “High-Value Exports.”

A. Status & Production

• Leading Producer: UP is India’s leading producer of Mango, Guava, Potato, and Peas.
• Production Statistics : Horticulture production rose to ~53 Million Tonnes, contributing over 33% to the state’s Agricultural GVA.
• Key Belts:
  • Mango: Malihabad (Lucknow) and Saharanpur.
  • Guava: Prayagraj (Allahabad Safeda) and Kaushambi.
  • Potato: Agra-Farrukhabad-Kannauj belt.

B. Policy & Initiatives

• Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH): Focus on establishment of Centers of Excellence (CoE).
  • CoE for Sweet Potato: Mirzapur.
  • CoE for Vegetables: Chandauli (Indo-Israel project).
• Perishable Cargo Centers: Near airports (Varanasi/Lucknow) to boost exports to Gulf nations.

Current Affairs Linkage :

• Dragon Fruit Expansion: Under the “Bundelkhand Special Package,” UP successfully expanded Dragon Fruit (Kamalam) cultivation to Chitrakoot and Jhansi, offering ₹30,000/hectare subsidy.
• Digital Crop Survey: UP became the first state to digitally map horticultural crops in 2025 to streamline insurance claims for vegetable growers.

2. Aquaculture (The “Blue Revolution”)

Trend: “Inland Fisheries” and “River Ranching.”

A. Potential & Production

• Resources: UP has vast inland resources—1.95 Lakh km of rivers/canals and ~4 Lakh hectares of reservoirs.
• Production: Fish production has doubled in the last decade, crossing 9 Lakh Metric Tonnes in 2024-25.
• River Ranching: Regular release of fingerlings into the Ganga (Varanasi/Kanpur) to maintain ecological balance.

B. Schemes

• Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY):
  • Focus: Establishment of Recirculatory Aquaculture Systems (RAS) and Biofloc units in water-scarce areas.
  • Fish Mall: Construction of ultra-modern wholesale fish markets in Chandauli and Gorakhpur.
• Chief Minister Matsya Sampada Yojana: Additional state subsidy to convert Gram Sabha ponds into fish farming units.

3. Sericulture (The “Silk Route” of UP)

Trend: “Import Substitution” and “Silk Tourism.”

A. Types of Silk in UP

• Mulberry (Shahtoot): Produced in Terai districts (Bahraich, Shravasti).
• Tasar: Produced in Vindhyan districts (Sonbhadra, Mirzapur, Chandauli) using Arjun/Asan trees.
• Eri: Introduced in semi-arid zones like Kanpur/Fatehpur.

B. Infrastructure & Marketing

• Silk Exchange: Establishing a “Silk Exchange” in Varanasi to stop the migration of weavers to Karnataka for raw material.
• Thread Banks: Setting up “Yarn Banks” in Mau and Mubarakpur to provide raw silk at subsidized rates.

Current Affairs Linkage :

• Silk Yarn Bank Policy: In 2025, the UP government announced a 50% subsidy on silk yarn for registered weavers in Varanasi to counter rising raw material costs.

4. Floriculture (The “Fragrance Economy”)

Trend: “Aroma Mission” and “Wellness Industry.”

A. Major Flower Clusters

• Kannauj: Roses and Marigolds for the Attar (Perfume) industry.
• Varanasi: Marigold and Rose for religious tourism (Temples).
• Lucknow/Aligarh: Gladiolus and Tuberose for cut-flower markets.

B. Development Strategies

• Polyhouse Farming: Subsidies (50-75%) for setting up Greenhouses to grow exotic flowers (Gerbera/Carnation).
• International Flower Festival: Organized annually at Governor House (Lucknow) and now extended to Noida to attract NCR markets.

Current Affairs Linkage :

• NBRI Collaboration: The UP Government tied up with CSIR-NBRI (National Botanical Research Institute) in 2025 to introduce new varieties of “Heat-Tolerant Roses” suitable for the changing climate of Central UP.

5. Arboriculture (Tree Cultivation & Agro-Forestry)

Trend: “Carbon Credits” and “Tree Outside Forest (TOF).”

A. Agro-Forestry (Wood Economy)

• Focus Species: Poplar (Matchstick industry in Bareilly), Eucalyptus (Paper industry), and Melia Dubia (Plywood).
• Policy: Relaxation in felling and transit rules for agro-forestry species to encourage farmers.

B. Carbon Credit Model (Pioneering Move)

• Carbon Farming: UP is the first state to link farmers with the carbon market.
  • Mechanism: Farmers planting trees on boundaries (Medh Par Ped) earn credits sold to industries.
  • Pilot: Launched in Gorakhpur and Saharanpur with TERI and IIT-Roorkee.

Current Affairs Linkage :

• Pre-Payment System: In a historic first (July 2024/25), the UP government distributed advance payments to farmers against expected carbon credits to motivate tree plantation, creating a new “Green Income” stream.

6. Viticulture (The Niche Sector)

Trend: “Fruit Wine” and “Sub-tropical Grapes.”

A. Current Status

• Limited Scale: Grape cultivation is limited to Western UP (Muzaffarnagar/Saharanpur) due to climatic constraints.
• Research: CISH (Lucknow) is developing sub-tropical grape varieties suited for North Indian summers.

B. The “Fruit Wine” Policy

• New Excise Policy :
  • Incentive: 100% Excise Duty exemption for 5 years for wineries producing wine from locally grown fruits (Mango, Jamun, Guava, Grapes).
  • First Winery: Inaugurated in Malihabad to produce Mango Wine, opening a new avenue for Viticulture and fruit processing.

Impact on Development of UP

1. Doubling Farmers’ Income: Diversification into high-value crops (Floriculture/Sericulture) breaks the low-income wheat-paddy cycle.
2. Export Boost: Horticulture and processed goods (ODOP) now contribute significantly to UP’s ₹1.75 Lakh Crore export basket.
3. Women Empowerment: Sericulture and Floriculture are labor-intensive, employing >60% women workforce.
4. Environmental Resilience: Arboriculture (Carbon credits) helps UP meet its “Net Zero” and “15% Green Cover” targets.