Agri growth jumped from 8.5% to 18% since 2017: CM

Lucknow: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said the priority accorded to farmers by his govt has led to Uttar Pradesh's agricultural growth rate jumping from 8.5% to 18% within nine years.Yogi was addressing a gathering after releasing the book 'Nav Nirman Ke 9 Varsh,' marking completion of nine years of his govt since 2017. "Govt's very first decision was taken in the interest of farmers. UP is now the fastest-growing state in agricultural development in the country," he said, adding that the farmers were no longer driven to suicide in the state. The CM said between 2012 and 2017, a total of Rs 95,000 crore was paid as sugarcane dues, whereas from 2017 till now, Rs 3,16,800 crore has been paid. In 2017, farmers received Rs 300 per quintal for sugarcane, which has now increased to Rs 400 per quintal. "Issues such as deduction (ghatauti) and slip (parchi) problems have also been resolved," he said. Likewise, he said, at govt procurement centres, crops like paddy, wheat, mustard, oilseeds, pulses, millets, bajra and maize are being purchased at the Minimum Support Price (MSP). Govt has also advised farmers that if they get a better price in the open market, they may sell there; otherwise, they can sell at procurement centres. Govt has provided relief to farmers by reducing mandi fees from 2.5-3% earlier to just 1% now, the CM said. Yogi said under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, about Rs 99,000 crore has been transferred directly into the accounts of farmers in Uttar Pradesh. "Congress and SP-BSP govts had pushed farmers into debt, whereas the double-engine govt has freed them from debt and restored them as productive contributors, leading them towards prosperity," he stressed. He added that farmers in the state are now taking up to three crops annually. "Additional irrigation facilities have been created over 5.6 million hectares," he said, adding that for the first time, govt is providing free electricity for private tube wells. Currently, 2.3 million tube wells run on diesel, and govt plans to free farmers from this dependency by providing solar panels, for which budgetary provisions have already been made, he said, asserting that the state govt will continue to take consistent steps towards ensuring the prosperity of farmers.