Agricultural Schemes, Policies and Programs of UP

Introduction

Various agricultural schemes & programs are being operated by Uttar Pradesh, some of them are operated by the Central Government, some by the State Government and some are operated by the Center-State partnership.

Various schemes, programs & policies

UP Agriculture Export Policy-2019 : In September, 2019, the state government has approved Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Export Policy-2019. The objectives of this policy are to increase the income of farmers, increase exports in the agricultural sector, assess the international market, provide information related to exportable products and global opportunities to farmers, etc. Through this policy, the state government aims to double the agricultural exports from the state by 2024 from the current agricultural export value.

Agricultural Parks ( Agro Parks ) : Agricultural Parks have been set up by the state government to provide fair price to the farmers for their produce. Agro Parks for food processing industry have been designed to meet the specific needs of the Agro & Food processing industry. They have specialised infrastructure includes Multi Chamber Cold Store and Controlled Atmosphere facility and Washing-sorting-grading line. These are located at —

• Hapur,
• Lucknow,
• Varanasi and
• Saharanpur.

Krishi Chintan ( कृषि चिन्तन ) – A monthly bulletin named ‘Krishi Chintan’ is published by the State Agriculture Department to diagnose contemporary problems of agriculture and increase technical knowledge.

Kisan Mitra Yojana ( किसान मित्र योजना ) – This scheme was started from June 18, 2001 regarding the appointment of a Kisan Mitra (Agriculture graduate/inter) in each panchayat to provide all kinds of information to the farmers in the state. It was given a facelift in 2008.

Old Age / Farmer Pension Scheme ( वृद्धावस्था / किसान पेंशन योजना ) –

• This scheme is funded by the Central Government and the State Government.
• This scheme is operated by the State Social Welfare Department.
• 500 to the old age group of 60 to 79 years under the old age / farmer pension scheme. Pension is given per month, in which the contribution of the Central and State Government is Rs.200 and Rs.300 respectively.
• 500 and 300 rupees per month are given by the central and state government respectively for the elderly of 80 years or more.

Kisan Credit Card Scheme ( KCC – किसान क्रेडिट कार्ड योजना ) – This scheme is being run in the state since 1999-2000with the objective of providing timely loan facility to the farmers for agricultural works at low rate of interest from the banks.

National Agricultural and Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme –

• The National Agricultural Insurance Scheme was launched in 1999-2000 with the assistance of the Centre to protect farmers from the risks involved in agricultural production.
• It was renamed as ‘Modified National Agricultural Insurance Scheme’ in 2010-11 with some amendments.
• From February, 2014, it is being operated under the name of Revised ‘National Agricultural Insurance Scheme and Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme.’
• Under this scheme, financial assistance is provided in the form of insurance cover to the farmers in case of failure to sow the crop due to natural calamities and diseases or destruction of the standing crop.

Uttar Pradesh Beej Vikas Nigam ( Uttar Pradesh Seed Development Corporation ) –

• Before the division of the state of Uttar Pradesh, the headquarters of the Uttar Pradesh and Terai Development Corporation was established in Pantnagar for the supply of seeds.
• As a result of the bifurcation of the state of Uttar Pradesh, most of the infrastructure of the Uttar Pradesh Seed and Terai Development Corporation, whose headquarters were located in Uttaranchal ( now Uttarakhand ), moved to Uttarakhand state.
• Uttar Pradesh Seed Development Corporation was established on June 29, 2002 to ensure the availability of seeds in the state.
• Uttar Pradesh Seed Development Corporation was registered on February 15, 2002 under the Companies Act.
• The business of Uttar Pradesh Seed Development Corporation was started from December 09, 2002.
• The objective of Uttar Pradesh Seed Development Corporation is to provide certified seeds of crops to the farmers of the state at reasonable prices.

UP RAJYA BEEJ PRAMANIKARAN SANSTHA ( उ०प्र० राज्य बीज प्रमाणीकरण संस्था : Uttar Pradesh State Seed Certification Institute ) –

• Establishment :
  • This organisation was established on October 5, 1976, under the Indian Seed Act – 1966.
  • It is registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860.
  • The organisation started the work of certification of seed in the star from Kharif 1977 crop season.
  • Its main function is to maintain the genetic and physical purity and germination capacity of seeds in the state as per the standards and to control seed borne diseases.
• Objective :
  • To fulfil all the prescribed responsibilities of the Seed Certification.
  • Certification of the seed crop sown and registered for seed production by the farmers/seed producing organisations of the state by the Indian minimum seed certification standards at the crop level and at the seed level.
  • To ensure the genetic purity, physical purity and germination capacity of certified seed production program.
  • To ensure genetic and physical purity and germination capacity in certified seeds as per standards.
  • To control seed borne diseases as per Indian minimum seed certification standards.
  • To make available high quality seeds to the farmers of the state through seed certification process.
  • To generate awareness among the farmers about the use of certified seeds and seed production work through training and publicity/dissemination for the expected increase in the seed replacement rate of the state.

Uttar Pradesh Land Development and Water Resource Development Training Institute ( उ०प्र० भूमि विकास एवं जल संसाधन विकास प्रशिक्षण संस्थान ) —

• This institute was formed in 1998 in Lucknow.
• The following programs are running under its control:
  • Wasteland Development Program in 47 districts.
  • Command development and water management program in 38 districts.
  • Drought prone area program in 15 districts.
• It may be noted that in the last financial year (2022-23), additional irrigation capacity of 21.42 lakh hectares was created in the state and about 45 lakh farmers were benefitted by this.
• A target has been set to complete Shahzad Dam ( शहजाद बाँध ), Sprinkler Irrigation Project including Middle Ganga Stage-2, Kachnouda Dam ( कचनौधा बाँध ) and Lakheri Dam ( लखेरी बाँध ) next year.

UP Land Reform Corporation –

• This corporation was established in March 1978 for land reform in the state.
• Usara Land Reform Project – This project is being run by State Land Reform Corporation in 125 blocks of 29 districts like Unnao, Aligarh, Pratap, Jaunpur, Sultanpur, Prayagraj etc.

Sodic Land Reclamation Project-III –

• This project is being run from 2009 to 2018 with the help of World Bank.
• Under this, 1.3 lakh hectares of barren land ( Usara ) in 32 districts and 5,000 hectares of rugged land ( Ravine – बीहड़ ) in 12 districts are proposed to be made cultivable.

Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Kisan Samriddhi Yojana –

• This scheme was approved by the state government on August 8, 2017.
• Under this, the rugged ( बीहड़ ), barren ( बंजर ) and waterlogged land of the state is to be improved and made agricultural.
• The scheme is spread over 68 districts from 2017-18 to 2021-22 while it is to be implemented in 74 districts from 2022-23 to 2026-27.

UP Diversified Agriculture Support Project ( UP DASP : उ० प्र० कृषि विविधीकरण परियोजना ) –

• This project is being run with the aim of creating employment opportunities by enterprises other than agriculture and getting maximum profit per unit.
• This project is being run with the assistance of the World Bank.
• This project is being implemented in 170 development blocks of western districts of the state.
• In this scheme :
  • promotion of low water crops,
  • incentives for crops like Maize, Urad, Moong, Guar,
  • promotion of poplar plantation,
  • promotion of cultivation of gram, peas, lentils in the midst of poplars and
  • through SMS to farmers Giving information about the market price etc. is being done.

Kisan Pathshala Prashikshan (Million Farmer School) –

• Kishan Pathshala scheme is being run from December, 2017 with the aim of increasing the income of farmers by making them educated and aware.
• Under this scheme, every year 10-10 lakh ( i.e. 1-1 million ) farmers are selected and trained at Nyaya Panchayat level.

Kisan Uday Yojana –

• Launched in December 2017.
• The main objective of this scheme is to inform farmers about modern equipment and provide low-cost equipment to increase their income.

Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana –

• On 24 February 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana in Gorakhpur.
• Under this scheme, farmers having land up to two hectares are being given Rs 6,000 per farmer per year. Farmers get this amount in three instalments of Rs 2000 each.
• It may be noted that Uttar Pradesh has the maximum number of farmers benefiting from this scheme in the country. In the year 2022-23, an amount of Rs 51639.68 crore was sent through DBT to the farmers’ account in total 12 instalments.

Kisan Seva Rath –

• This service is being run in the state since 2010-11 to provide complete information related to agriculture to the farmers living far away from the district headquarters.

Integrated Grain Development Program ( एकीकृत धान्य या अनाज विकास कार्यक्रम ) –

• This program is operational since 2010-11.
• The objective of this program is to reduce regional disparity by increasing the productivity of selected cereal crops grown in selected districts.
• This scheme is being implemented in 33 districts for wheat, 45 districts for rice and 26 districts for coarse grains.

PM-KUSUM Scheme ( किसान उर्जा सुरक्षा एवं उत्थान महा अभियान ) —

• Name: Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthan Mahabhiyan
• Implementation guidelines issued on : 22 July, 2019
• Ministry New and Renewable Energy
• Objectives :
  • To increase farmers’ income provide reliable source of irrigation & de-dieselise the farm- sector.
  • To add solar capacity of 25750 MW by 2022 with the total Central Financial Support of Rs. 34422 crore.
• Components : The scheme has three components :-
  • 10000 MW of Decentralised Ground Mounted Grid Connected Renewable Power Plants of individual plant size up to 2 MW.
  • Installation of 17.50 lakh stand alone Solar Powered Agriculture Pumps of individual pump capacity up to 7.5 HP.
  • Solarisation of 10 lakh Grid-connected Agriculture Pumps of individual pump capacity up to 7.5 HP.
• Under this scheme, there was a target of setting up 15 thousand solar pumps in the financial year 2022-23 and a target has been set to increase this number to 30 thousand in the next financial year 2023-24.

Organic Fertiliser Production Centre – There are a total of 17 bio-fertiliser laboratories in the state, through which ready-made organic fertilisers, such as rhizobium, azotobactor and PSV, are produced and distributed among farmers.

Cow Based Natural Farming – To promote organic farming and to protect cows, the state government has started cow lineage based natural farming. Under this scheme, natural farming will be done in 85710 hectare area of ​​49 districts of the state by using manures related to cattle breed.

State Agricultural Sectors ( राजकीय कृषि प्रक्षेत्र ) – There are a total of 165 state agricultural sectors in the state, which are as follows :

• 7 large sectors for the purpose of basic / certified seed production of agricultural crops,
• 13 sectors affiliated to the Divisional Agricultural Testing and Demonstration Center,
• 3 Agricultural School Sectors,
• 1 Fields affiliated to Soil Conservation and Training Center and
• 141 general seed promotion fields.

UP State Agro Industrial Corporation Ltd. –

• This corporation provides fertilisers, seeds, agricultural protection chemicals, agricultural machinery, bakhari, tractors, animal feed etc. to the farmers at reasonable prices.
• There are total 188 sales centres of this corporation in the entire state.
• In this corporation, wheat and paddy of farmers are also purchased through purchase centres at the support price announced by the government.

State Agriculture Produce Market Council

State Agricultural Produce Market Council ( राज्य कृषि उत्पादन मण्डी परिषद ) :

• The Agricultural Produce Market Act, 1964 was passed in 1964 with the aim of establishing healthy traditions of agricultural marketing by eliminating the evil practices prevailing in traditional agricultural markets, illegal deductions and undue influence of middlemen.
• In 1973, the State Agricultural Produce Market Council was established.
• At present, 251 main and 375 sub-markets are regulated under this council.
• A market committee has been set up for each market. Along with regulation of markets, new market places are also constructed by market committees.
• ‘Chief Minister Barn Fire Accident Assistance Scheme’ ( मुख्यमंत्री खलिहान अग्नि दुर्घटना सहायता योजना ) :
  • This scheme is being run by the Mandi Parishad of the state through the District Magistrate.
  • In this scheme, financial assistance of minimum ₹30,000 and maximum ₹50,000 is given on the basis of holding limit.
• Mukhyamantri Krishak Durghatna Kalyan Yojana :
  • Approval – 19 January, 2020.
  • Came into effect from 14 September, 2019.
  • Previous name – Mukhyamantri Krishak Durghatna Bima Yojna.
  • Under this scheme, financial assistance ranging from ₹ 5 to 75 thousand will be given by the Mandi Parishad to farmers, agricultural labourers and labourers of the Mandi Committee/Council in the notified Mandi areas of the state in the age group of 18 to 60 years.
  • In case of death, an amount of Rs. 2 lakh will be given.
• Mukhyamantri Krishak Uphaar Yojana : is being run by Mandi Parishad for the farmers. In this scheme, 4 quarterly and 2 half yearly draws of gifts are taken out.
• So far, 1643 hubs have been set up under the plan to provide an agricultural marketing hub at an interval of every 10 km for sale and purchase of farmers’ produce.
• All the major market committees have been connected by the Mandi Parishad to the website, so that the market price of any place can be easily known.
• Mandi Parishad is running a scheme called ‘Krishak Helpline‘, in which a farmer can solve his problem with agricultural scientists of universities through free call on telephone.
• The Council is running a scheme for distribution of ‘Bakhari’ to the farmers for proper storage of agricultural produce.
• Under the Mandi Parishad, a flower auction centre and a modern fruit market are being set up in Noida.
• Mandi Parishad lays special emphasis on auction system to ensure fair price to the farmers for their produce.
• Mandi Parishad makes proper arrangements for free rest houses, tying of animals, feeding water, fodder, bank, post office, police posts, Dharmakatas and electronic weighing machines etc. for the farmers in Mandis.
• In order to provide facilities like soil testing, organic fertilisers, agricultural machinery, seeds, agriclinics, information science centres etc. to the farmers, the Council is setting up ‘Farmer Service Centres’ in each market committee.

Revenue department programme

• The following works come under the revenue department :
  • proper maintenance of land related records,
  • consolidation of scattered holdings,
  • compilation of data related to agricultural produce,
  • personal accident insurance scheme for farmers,
  • settlement of land disputes,
  • creation of programs related to land reform and their implementation and
  • recovery of various dues etc. for revenue enhancement.
• Record-keeper ( Lekhpal ), Tehsildar, District Collector, Commissioner etc. are the parts of revenue administration.
• After independence, several laws were made to end the Zamindari system in urban and rural areas by passing the Uttar Pradesh Zamindari Abolition and Land System Act, 1950 in 1950, and allotment of land to the landless.
• For effective implementation of land reforms, a maximum limit has been set for equitable distribution of land through the Uttar Pradesh Imposition of Ceiling on Holdings Act, 1960 (Ceiling Law). Under this, in irrigated means, in addition to the applicable maximum limit of 18 acres, land vested in the state was arranged to be distributed among the weaker sections of the society.
• The land obtained from ceiling is used for the following purposes :
  • Providing land for agriculture and housing to SC, ST and Divyang persons.
  • Pond construction.
  • To set up industry.
  • To get construction work done for public use.
  • Tree plantation etc.
• Assistance is provided by the Revenue Department itself in case of drought (announcement of drought-prone districts), heavy rains, flood, fire, storm/cyclone, and cold wave etc.
• Under the State Disaster Management Act 2005, the Uttar Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority has been constituted under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister.
• In the State Disaster Response Fund constituted at the state level, 75% share is of the centre and 25% share is of the state government.
• Disaster Risk Management Project (Aapda Prabandhan Project) operated by the United Nations Development Program Since 2003, the following program is being run in the state :
  • Urban seismic vulnerability reduction program in 6 cities (Bareilly, Varanasi, Meerut, Agra, Kanpur and Lucknow) highly sensitive to earthquakes of the state.
  • In 13 districts, it is being run as a program to make villagers aware and trained for disaster management works.

Consolidation Program / Scheme – This program was started in 1954 in the state. This scheme has a direct relation with land reform, green revolution and rural development. This program was started to fulfil the following objectives :

• To raise the standard of living of farmers by increasing agricultural production and productivity in the state.
• Under this scheme / program, scattered fields are collected and made into a holding (chaks).
• Land is reserved for farm-road ( chak-marg), link road, drain.
• Land is reserved for general population, SC / ST population and public purpose.

National Land Records Modernisation Program – This scheme was started in the state in 2008-09 with the cooperation of the Centre. The following works are included under this :

• Validation of data of Khatauni,
• updation of Amal-Daramad,
• feeding of Khasra records,
• computerisation of map etc.
• Under this scheme, all the tehsils of the state have been e-linked to the state headquarters via the district headquarters.

Kisan Bahi Yojana ( किसान बही योजना ) – Kisan Bahi Yojana was implemented from 1992 by changing the format of existing Jot Bahi / Pass Book to inform 2.50 crore land holders of the state about their holdings. The following information is included in this : Name and address of the account holder and his physical details as well as entries related to sale, mortgage, lease and regulation are mentioned.

Svamitva Scheme ( स्वामित्व योजना ) – It was launched on 24th April, 2020. This scheme is related to the preparation of residential records (Gharauni – घरौनी) in the rural areas of the country by the Central Government. After getting this record, there will be following benefits :

• There will be reduction in the disputes related to residential property in the villages.
• Loan can be easily taken by keeping the house in the bank.
• Gharauni can be easily sold.

Chief Minister Farmer Accident Welfare Scheme – This scheme is operated from September 2019 under the Uttar Pradesh Revenue Department. Under this scheme, financial assistance of ₹ 5 lakh is given in case of accidental death of the farmers of the state in the age group of 18 to 70 years.

Co-operation ( सहकारिता )

The objective of the cooperative department of the state government is not only to provide cheap credit facility to the farmers, but also to make the rural and urban poor people prosperous. Keeping in view the multifarious effect of the cooperative movement, the Cooperative Act was enacted in 1965.

Primary Agricultural Credit Societies – Presently there are a total of 7479 societies in the state. These societies provide agricultural production loans, fertilisers, seeds and pesticides etc. to their farmer members at cheap interest (3%).

Uttar Pradesh Cooperative Development Bank – Through this, long term loans are made available to the farmers for the purchase of agricultural machinery.

Physiography of Uttar Pradesh

Agro-Climatic Zone of UP

Agriculture and Animal Husbandry in Uttar Pradesh

Cropping Seasons in Uttar Pradesh

Land Use Indicators : India vs Uttar Pradesh

Crop Rotation In Uttar Pradesh

Irrigation in UP

Agro-Climatic Zone of UP