As Uttar Pradesh focuses on enhancing productivity, technological innovations can serve as critical drivers of agricultural growth. Speaking at a state-level workshop on ‘Biotechnology Applications for Crop Improvement’ on May 22, 2025, at Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology (ANDUAT), Dr K V Raju, Advisor to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, outlined a bold vision for agri-modernisation driven by technology and science.
“Uttar Pradesh has seen remarkable progress in the last eight years, with the State’s GDP growing to nearly Rs 30 lakh crore, at an annual rate of 14%,” said Dr Raju. “Agriculture is a key pillar of this growth. Yet, the stagnation in productivity of crops like rice and wheat is concerning. We need the collective scientific wisdom of the public and private sectors to usher in the next wave of transformation.”
The workshop, organised by Biotech Consortium India Limited (BCIL) in collaboration with ANDUAT and supported by the Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII), marked Uttar Pradesh’s first formal engagement focused on biotechnology applications in agriculture.
Dr Raju urged the importance of enhancing yield, diversification to crops like maize and potato from sugarcane; and leveraging biotechnological tools to bridge yield gaps and boost farmer incomes. He reiterated that Uttar Pradesh is collaborating with several major international research organisations and is also setting up a state-of-the-art seed park, spanning 200 acres. “The State’s potential in this sector is unmatched and the government is keen on these initiatives,” he said.
Uttar Pradesh contributes nearly 20% to India’s foodgrain output, yet faces major productivity gaps. Rice yields range from just 1.7 to 2.4 tonnes per hectare compared to Punjab’s 6.5 tonnes, and pulse productivity remains among the lowest despite extensive cultivation. Experts said that rising pest and disease pressures expose the limits of conventional breeding in tackling evolving challenges.
Workshops are being held across several Indian states to raise awareness about biotechnology innovations including GM and gene-edited crops and this event marked Uttar Pradesh’s first state-level engagement.
Raghavan Sampathkumar, Executive Director of FSII, emphasized the urgency of advancing scientific innovation, stating, “We cannot afford to delay. It is time to embrace technologies that can help us mitigate the challenges posed by climate change.” He highlighted that the conversation extends beyond mere production, focusing on sustainability. According to Sampathkumar, precision biotech tools can optimize usage of agri inputs by enhancing their use efficiency, and ultimately strengthen the livelihoods of farmers.
Experts at the workshop called for capacity building of state agriculture officials, agricultural universities, and KVKs to equip them with the science and communication tools needed to responsibly implement biotech advances. While the Centre has laid the groundwork for certain biotech crops, actual deployment requires state buy-in, which is why workshops like this are seen as critical.
Dr Vibha Ahuja, Chief General Manager at BCIL, said, “While regulatory hurdles around GM crops are being addressed, our mission is to accelerate the adoption of biotechnology through proactive engagement. Tremendous research is happening across Indian labs, and it is time we translate that into impact at the farm level.”
She added, “India is unique because of the close collaboration between the public and private sectors. Our goal is to reach state agriculture departments, universities, and private innovators with the right knowledge and support. The recent release of two gene-edited rice varieties by our Hon’ble Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan Ji shows the way forward.”
Highlighting the role of young innovators, Dr Bijendra Singh, Vice Chancellor of ANDUAT, said, “We must equip students and scientists with cutting-edge knowledge to make Uttar Pradesh a leader in agri-biotechnology.”
The workshop also saw the presence of eminent scientists and institutional leaders, including Dr T.R. Sharma, Former Deputy Director General (Crop Science), ICAR and Director & CEO, National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI), Mohali; Dr Ajit Kumar Shasany, Director, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow; Dr Prabodh Kumar Trivedi, Director, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow; and Dr S.K. Singh, Director Research, ANDUAT.
Experts stressed that with over two crore farmers, a shrinking average landholding size of 1.08 hectares, and increasing climate volatility, Uttar Pradesh's agricultural future hinges on timely, science-driven reforms.
