Yogi government’s complete plan to make UP self-reliant in pulses and oilseeds

Lucknow| It is the intention of Modi at the Center and Yogi government of the state to make the country and the state self-reliant in the cultivation of pulses and oilseeds. Continuous efforts are also going on for this. In the next few years, the state will become self-reliant in the matter of pulses and oilseeds. Due to balance between demand and supply, neither the pulses in the common man’s plate will become thin nor the oil will boil.

On the initiative of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the Agriculture Department has prepared a complete action plan in this regard for four years (2023-24 to 2026-27). During this period, about Rs 236 crore will be spent on the implementation of the scheme. This includes free distribution of mini kits of seeds of pulses and oilseed crops, demonstration at progressive farmers and providing information about advanced methods of farming by experts through farmer schools.

Under the scheme, free mini kits of seeds of pulses and oilseed crops are being given to the farmers of the concerned area within the stipulated time period as per the different agricultural climate of the state. In this sequence, urad, moong, pigeon pea, gram, peas, lentils have been selected for pulse crops. Oilseed crops include sesame, peanut, rye/mustard and linseed seeds.

The UP Agreement Scheme, run with the help of the World Bank, will also be helpful in making the state self-reliant in pulses and oilseeds. Especially, there is a plan to develop clusters to encourage groundnut cultivation in Jhansi and its adjoining areas.

There will also be demonstrations in the field of progressive farmers to ensure that farmers learn about improved cultivation of these crops. Besides, experts in Kisan Pathshala will also tell the farmers about improved species resistant to diseases and pests, from field preparation to sowing methods, crop conservation measures and storage. Its objective is to increase production in the same proportion with area.

Soon after his second term (April 2022), CM Yogi had directed in a review meeting to prepare a complete plan to make the state self-reliant in the production of pulses and oilseeds in the next five years. Since then work on this had also started. For this, the allocation of certified and basic seeds was increased. Farmers were made aware about intercropping of pulses and oilseeds along with main Rabi-Kharif crops, border line sleeping and sowing of pulses and oilseed crops through micro irrigation on uneven lands. Now the government has brought a complete action plan in this regard.

At present, only 30-35 percent is being produced in the state against the requirement of edible oils and 40-45 percent against the requirement of pulses. Whenever there is a slight disturbance in the demand and supply of pulses and oilseeds, due to high population, maximum demand comes out from India. Due to this demand, exporting countries raise prices at the international level. Uttar Pradesh is greatly affected by this in terms of population and consumption. Increased prices make media headlines. After becoming self-reliant in pulses and oilseed crops, this will not be possible if there is balance in demand and supply.

Uttar Pradesh is the largest state in the country in terms of population. In such a situation, the demand and supply here affects not only the country but also the world markets. In such a situation, Uttar Pradesh definitely remains at the center of any scheme. In such a situation, Uttar Pradesh also gets the maximum benefit from it.

Recently, for the first time, the Central Government has signed an agreement for contract farming as a pilot project. This agreement has been signed by the central organization National Cooperative Consumer Federation (NCCF) with some farmers of Jharkhand, Bihar, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. If the project is successful, it will be expanded to other states also. Among the pulse crops, the highest consumption is from pigeon pea, hence the Central Government has selected 35 districts for the cultivation of pigeon pea and 18 districts to encourage the cultivation of urad.

Yogi government is already running Dalhan Gram Yojana focusing on Bundelkhand for the promotion of pulse crops. About two years ago, the Central Government had also implemented One District One Product Scheme in agriculture. It also included one or more districts for one crop. Under this, Chitrakoot, Mahoba, Hamirpur and Sonbhadra were selected for gram crop.