Lucknow, Oct 27 (HS): Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Minister

Surya Pratap Shahi on Tuesday, on the 37th foundation day of the

Uttar Pradesh Agricultural Research Council (UPKAR), stressed on food security

along with crop diversification and adopting natural farming. Addressing the seminar,

Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi said that the government will provide

12 lakh quintals of certified seeds on subsidy in the Rabi season. The

Agriculture Minister also informed that 10 lakh farmers of the state will also

be given free pulses-oilseeds minikits.

Surya Pratap Shahi said that the agricultural sector holds

immense potential. Uttar Pradesh, with 11 percent of the country's land area,

produces 22 percent of the country's food grains.

The intensive system that exists here is not found anywhere

else. The Agriculture Minister said that we have to improve food security. The

population is continuously increasing. Therefore, we have to fulfill the needs

of our country as per the requirement. Therefore, the agriculture of Uttar

Pradesh has to be prepared accordingly. The Agriculture Minister said that how

we can reduce the cost and increase the income of the farmer is a challenge for

us. Our agriculture should be value based. Women have an important role in

farming. We have to increase the role of youth in this. Shahi appealed to the

farmers not to burn stubble. Outstanding agricultural scientists and

progressive farmers were honored in the function.

For years, the Uttar Pradesh Agricultural Research Council

has been doing commendable work to make agriculture profitable for the state's

farmers through innovative technologies, improved seeds, and research. On this

occasion, senior officials from UPKAR provided detailed information about the

council's various activities.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi