Lucknow, 31 July (HS): Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has

given instructions to expand the scope of the Chief Minister Farmer Scholarship

Scheme, run for the meritorious children (children) of farmers, so that more

and more eligible students can get its benefit. The 172nd meeting of the Board

of Directors of the Uttar Pradesh State Agricultural Produce Market Council was

held on Friday under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Several important proposals related to farmer welfare, agricultural marketing,

and the market system were approved, including a budget of Rs. 3,025.49 crore

for the year 2026-27.

Chief Minister Yogi directed that the state's mandis be

modernized and revitalized, equipping them with modern facilities, to provide

farmers with a better, transparent, and convenient marketing system. He placed

special emphasis on strengthening all basic amenities in the mandis, including

drinking water, sanitation, and lighting. The Chief Minister emphasized

encouraging the establishment of agricultural produce processing units in the

market areas on a public-private partnership (PPP) model. He directed that the

regulations for this be made more practical and investment-friendly, so that

farmers can receive better prices for their produce, enhance value, and create

new employment opportunities in rural areas. He also directed that more mandis

be connected to the e-NAM (National Agricultural Market) platform, and that

more farmers be connected to the National Mission on Natural Farming, and that

a system for certification of organic products be ensured in every district.

The meeting approved the revised income and expenditure

estimates for the financial year 2025-26 and the budget for the year 2026-27.

For the year 2026-27, estimated receipts of Rs. 2228.59 crore and expenditure

provisions of Rs. 3025.49 crore were approved. It was informed in the meeting

that the income of the state's market committees has increased from Rs. 1991.33

crore in 2024-25 to Rs. 2305.80 crore in 2025-26. This is a significant

increase of 15.79 percent.

The budget includes adequate provisions for the construction

and expansion of market places, the construction and repair of connecting

roads, rural fairs, farmers' markets, cattle shelters, hostel construction,

land purchase for market committees, and other development works. A provision

of Rs. 1,212.02 crore has also been made to expedite previously approved

construction projects. The Board of Directors approved the proposal to extend

the period of the Chief Minister Farmer Accident Assistance Scheme and the

Chief Minister Farm-Barn Fire Accident Assistance Scheme from July 1, 2025, to

June 30, 2030. A provision of Rs 30 crore has been made in the budget for the

year 2026-27 for the operation of both these schemes, so that farmers and their

families will continue to receive timely financial assistance in situations

like accidents or fire in the fields and barns.

In the meeting, proposals to provide interest-free working

capital to various cooperative institutions to make the procurement system of

pulses and oilseeds more effective under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) were

also approved. Decisions were also taken at the meeting on various proposals

related to the council's financial and administrative matters. The Chief

Minister also reviewed the compliance with the decisions taken at the previous

board meeting and directed that all farmer-friendly and development works be

completed within the stipulated timeframe in a quality manner.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi