Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the Shri Anna Mahotsav, a state-level exhibition and workshop, at the Indira Gandhi Pratishthan in Lucknow on Friday. During the event, the Chief Minister emphasized the historical significance of Shri Anna, tracing its importance back to the Vedic era. He also highlighted the potential role of Shri Anna in addressing future global food crises.
Yogi Adityanath expressed the need to adopt a natural lifestyle and noted that Shri Anna could play a vital role in this endeavor. He urged for research efforts to enhance the productivity of Shri Anna.
Chief Minister toured the exhibition, which featured millet producers from across the state. The Shri Anna Mahotsav is scheduled to span three days and coincides with the 34th foundation day of the Uttar Pradesh Agricultural Research Council, an organization dedicated to agricultural research and development. Yogi Adityanath believes that this festival has the potential to bring about comprehensive changes in the lives of farmers in Uttar Pradesh.
During the event, the Chief Minister advocated for the establishment of laboratories in every Krishi Vigyan Kendra and Agricultural University for the certification of organic products. He underscored the government's commitment to promoting natural farming and emphasized the significant role of 'govansh' (cattle) in this endeavor.
Yogi Adityanath pointed out that in the past, coarse grains, particularly millets, were produced abundantly and formed an integral part of people's daily lives. However, due to factors like population growth and a slowdown in research and development, millet production declined over the years.
The Chief Minister acknowledged that while India has made substantial progress in achieving food self-sufficiency, it has also faced adverse consequences, including an increase in diseases resulting from the excessive use of chemical fertilizers.
During the ceremony, Yogi Adityanath honored 35 farmers' organizations working in the field of 'Shri Anna.' In addition, financial assistance of Rs 95 lakh each was granted to five Krishi Vigyan Kendras in the state, namely Jhansi, Lalitpur, Banda, Hamirpur, and Ghazipur, for setting up millet-processing plants.
The event saw the participation of State Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi, MSME Minister Rakesh Sachan, Minister of State for Agriculture Baldev Singh Aulakh, UP Agricultural Research Council Chairman Captain Vikas Gupta, Agriculture Production Commissioners Manoj Kumar Singh and Sanjay Aggarwal, along with Dr Devesh Chaturvedi and vice-chancellors of agricultural universities.
The Shri Anna Mahotsav highlights its historical importance, its role in tackling future food challenges, the call for embracing a natural lifestyle, and the imperative for research and assistance in millet production.
