The Agriculture Minister of the state, Surya Pratap Shahi, highlighted the crucial role of farmers in achieving self-reliance in India. He acknowledged their significant contribution to not only meeting domestic food requirements but also making strides in the global market. Shahi mentioned that, over the past 15 months, Varanasi alone has exported an impressive 800 metric tons of fruits and vegetables, showcasing the evolving entrepreneurial spirit among farmers. Minister Shahi disclosed upcoming subsidies for agricultural machinery and extended the deadline for online applications for solar pumps.
Surya Pratap Shahi emphasized the government's commitment to supporting farmers and announced purchases for crops like chickpeas, mustard, lentils, and wheat during the Rabi season.
Call for Climate-Resilient Farming
During the inauguration of a three-day farmers' fair for Northeast India at the Indian Vegetable Research Institute in Shahanshahpur, Minister Shahi urged farmers to focus on climate-resilient farming. He emphasized the rich cultural and natural resources in Uttar Pradesh, providing ample opportunities for agricultural development. The minister encouraged farmers to leverage research and development in agriculture resources for sustainable practices.
Regional Agriculture Fair Draws Over 2800 Farmers
The ongoing Regional Agriculture Fair at the Indian Institute of Vegetable Research (IIVR), Varanasi, witnessed the active participation of over 2800 farmers, including 1000 women from various states. Engaging in technical sessions, farmers explored lectures and stalls to enhance their knowledge about modern machines, techniques, and agricultural products.
AARYA Scheme and Empowering Rural Youth
During a session on 'Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Microbial Technology,' Dr. US Gautam highlighted efforts to increase agricultural production and emphasized the government's AARYA scheme. The scheme aims to attract rural youth to agriculture, including the ambitious goal of creating 15000 'Drone Didis' with extensive training underway to empower women in rural areas.
Plans for International Potato Institute and Agricultural University
Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi announced plans for an international institute for potatoes in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, with an agreement between state and central governments already in place. Additionally, a new agricultural university is set to be established in Kushinagar, with allocated budget provisions.
Diverse Showcases at the Agricultural Fair
The fair featured a diverse array of stalls, with a notable focus on coarse grains. Exhibits included maize, kodu, Sanwa, pearl millet, sorghum, vegetables, flowers, seeds, and cutting-edge agriculture equipment. Animal medical treatment stalls were also set up, providing farmers with valuable information about the products they purchased.
The Agricultural Science Center at Gazipur, organized by Acharya Narendra Dev Agricultural University, showcased the Narendra Shivani variety of bottle gourd, known for its impressive growth potential of four to eight feet and a production capacity of two to two and a half quintals per hectare. The five-foot-long bottle gourd became a center of attraction at the fair.
