The food grain contributes the maximum, more than 40 per cent, to the state’s farm sector, followed by horticulture and sugarcane crops at roughly 22.50 per cent and 19.5 per cent, respectively.
The remaining portion is contributed by agricultural allied activities, which include pisciculture, animal husbandry, sericulture, poultry, etc.
“UP has been witnessing a robust growth in farm output with the current food grain production touching 73.7 million tonnes (mt),” Shahi informed.
Meanwhile, he claimed the state has an adequate stock of fertilisers for the current kharif season while the government is already making arrangements for the coming rabi sowing season.
To meet the Rabi requirements, UP will seek more than 6.8 mt of fertilisers, including 4.1 mt of urea, 1.7 mt of Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP), 900,000 tonnes of Nitrogen Phosphorus Potash (NPK), etc, from the Centre.
Recently, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had directed officials to ensure seamless distribution of fertilisers and strict monitoring across the state.
Moreover, vigilance has been intensified in border districts to prevent fertiliser and urea smuggling. Shahi claimed the government is taking stern action against those involved in black marketing, hoarding, or smuggling of fertilisers.
During the current kharif season, more than 3.2 mt of fertiliser have already been sold. For the rabi season, the UP government has set a cultivation target of 13.88 million hectares.
To support farmers, 100,000 tonnes of subsidised seeds and nearly 1.28 million mini kits will be distributed across 75 districts.
Sugarcane farmers will also receive free seeds of pulses and oilseed crops for intercropping to increase farm revenue.