Yogi bats for ‘land is lab’ model to achieve self-reliance in agriculture

Lucknow: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday underscored the urgency to strengthen agricultural self-reliance, citing global disruptions that have exposed vulnerabilities in food and energy supply chains.Addressing the inaugural session of the 6th Uttar Pradesh Agricultural Science Congress, the chief minister said uncertainties in international supply chains, fluctuating fertiliser prices and the volatile availability of petroleum products have made dependence on external sources increasingly risky.“In such a scenario, an agriculture-based country like India must reinforce its traditional farming systems while integrating them with modern technology,” he said.Yogi stressed the need to build a robust local ecosystem encompassing production, processing and distribution. “A strong local framework can cushion the impact of global crises while ensuring higher farmer incomes and economic stability,” he added.Outlining the roadmap for the sector, he said agriculture must evolve “from production to productivity, from productivity to profitability, and ultimately to prosperity,” linking farmer welfare directly to the vision of an Atmanirbhar Viksit Bharat.

Highlighting Uttar Pradesh’s agricultural performance, the chief minister noted that despite having only around 11% of the country’s cultivable land, the state supports 16%-17% of India’s population and contributes nearly 21% to total foodgrain production. He attributed this to policy interventions, scientific practices and farmers’ efforts, adding that the state’s agricultural growth rate has risen from 8% to around 18%.Reflecting on India’s historical economic strength, Yogi said the country once commanded a 44%-45% share in the global economy due to its robust agrarian base. “Farmers were not merely producers but also artisans and entrepreneurs involved in processing and manufacturing. Over time, this ecosystem weakened, reducing them to raw material producers,” he said.The chief minister emphasised the role of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, drones and satellite systems in transforming agriculture.These tools, he said, can enable real-time crop monitoring, disease detection, precision spraying and weather-based decision-making.He also pitched for natural farming as a sustainable long-term solution that reduces input costs while preserving soil health and ecological balance.On market reforms, Yogi highlighted digital agriculture platforms and initiatives like ‘One Nation, One Mandi’, stating that improved market access and reduced mandi fees are helping farmers secure better prices.Calling for a paradigm shift, he advocated moving beyond the traditional “lab to land” approach to a “land is lab” model, where farmers and scientists collaborate directly in fields to drive innovation.Referring to reforms in the sugarcane sector, he said payment delays have significantly reduced, with 107 of the state’s 122 sugar mills now clearing dues within a week. He added that irrigation coverage has expanded to 85%-86% of agricultural land, aided by projects such as the Saryu Canal National Project, which has brought irrigation to nearly 14 lakh hectares.In a veiled attack on previous govts, the chief minister said the agriculture sector before 2017 was marked by inefficiency, weak procurement systems and delayed payments. He said the current govt has ensured procurement at Minimum Support Price and direct payments through DBT, restoring farmers’ confidence.On the occasion, Yogi felicitated 15 scientists under the Uttar Pradesh Krishi Vaigyanik Samman Yojana 2025-26, while 30 scientists from the Uttar Pradesh Academy of Agricultural Sciences were also honoured. The Lifetime Achievement Award was conferred on Dr Satya Prakash of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut.