ENVIS Centre: Uttar Pradesh
Status of Environment and Related Issues

Source: Department of Planning, Uttar Pradesh (as per Annual Plan 2014-15)

Strategy of Annual Plan 2014-15

Implementation of New Agriculture Policy 2013 through various schemesThe State Agriculture Policy 2013 for Uttar Pradesh envisaged 5.1 % growth rate in the agriculture sector. To achieve this, the Agriculture Policy revolved around implementation of activities based on seven thrust areas, called Sapt Kranti viz. extension, irrigation and water management, soil health and fertility, seed management, marketing, research and agriculture diversification. In Eleventh Five year plan, the state could achieve only 3.0% growth against the planned 4.0% for agriculture sector.  Since the commencement of the existing agriculture policy, there has been a drastic change in agricultural landscape of the state.The continuous increase in population, injudicious exploitation of natural resources, unplanned urbanization and industrialization, excessive use of agro-chemicals and increase in consumerism has led to air, water, soil and noise pollution, resulting in multi-dimensional problems. The Agriculture sector has become a non-profitable business due to high costs of production, lack of post-harvest management and processing facilities in the state and reduced economic returns, particularly from small land holdings.  Farmers are forced to migrate to urban areas in search of  alternate profitable activities, leaving agriculture in the process. Due to  inclusion of agriculture in the World Trade agreement, if necessary steps are not initiated for making it a profitable venture by ensuring quality produce  at low cost of production, the situation of rural areas may become worse in the near future.  The changes in climatic conditions are also becoming a serious concern for agriculture. There is partial scope for expansion of area under cultivation because of the limited area available; however the quality of production can be increased through efficient use of inputs, resources, capital and agricultural knowledge. In the agricultural sector, the exploitation of non-conventional energy resources along with conventional resources will not only reduce the burden on conventional energy sources but also improve the quality and productivity of agricultural produce, which will help in increasing the overall income of farmers.Therefore, in order to achieve the multidimensional potential of agricultural development in the state, it has become imperative to make the necessary changes in the present Agriculture Policy keeping in view the future challenges of the state.VisionTransforming the state into a ‘Granary of the Nation’ by ensuring food and nutritional security and to improve the quality of village life with inclusive and sustainable growth. Objectives                                                     

1. To achieve a growth rate of 5.1% in the agriculture sector.
2. To develop and popularize appropriate eco-friendly farming systems which would improve the soil health as well as farm income.
3. To develop and conserve natural resources for maintaining ecological balance.
4. To increase the income of farmers through agricultural diversification towards high value activities, while retaining the core-competence in area of food and nutritional security.
5. To develop infrastructure facilities in sectors of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, agriculture implements, extension services, food processing and marketing by promoting private sector involvement across the agricultural supply chain.

Strategies      

1. Increasing agricultural production and productivity by improving input use efficiency, soil health and developing sodic and waste lands.
2. Ensuring timely availability of quality inputs.
3. Reducing cost of cultivation by way of better crop management, use of cost effective locally available inputs and adoption of new technologies.
4. Increasing the profitability of agriculture produce by way of value addition.
5. Promoting utilization of non-conventional energy resources.
6. Ensuring participation of private sector.
7. Encouraging development of infrastructure at rural level.
8. Promoting agriculture based industries in order to make landless labour self- dependent and decreasing the dependency on agriculture.

Challenges Ahead

1. To ensure food and nutritional security to the state population and increase the productivity of agricultural crops under changing climatic conditions.
2. To improve the quality of crop production and reduce the cost of production of agricultural produce, in context of the World Trade Agreement.
3. To ensure efficient management and conservation of natural resources.
4. To ensure clean and pollution free environment in order to maintain the ecological balance.
5. To make small holdings profitable in order to ensure the prosperity of small and marginal farmers.
6. To encourage participation of private sector in the agricultural sector, through investments and Public-Private Partnerships.
7. To promote agriculture based industries to increase the income and employment of the rural population to reduce the dependence on agriculture.

Interventions

1. To achieve the envisaged growth rate during the XII Five Year Plan and thereafter on sustainable basis. Major interventions proposed are as follows;
2. Regionally differentiated strategies will be pursued, taking into account the agronomic, agro-ecological, environmental and socio-economic conditions to realize the full growth potential of every region.
3. Ensure timely supply of quality inputs such as seed, planting material, fertilizers and other agrochemicals, agriculture machinery, credit, insurance etc. at reasonable rates on timely manner.
4. The government will endeavour to reduce the cost of cultivation through enhancing input use efficiency and popularizing indigenous, cost effective and location specific technologies.
5. Development of animal husbandry, dairying, poultry, pisciculture, apiculture, horticulture, aquaculture, sericulture and mushroom cultivation will receive a major thrust in the efforts for diversifying agriculture, increasing animal protein availability in the food basket and for generating marketable surpluses.
6. The regionalization of agricultural research on all 20 new agro-ecological regions will be accorded high priority. Research and development on frontier science like biotechnology, gene engineering and energy saving technologies, remote sensing technologies, pre and post harvest technologies and technology for environmental protection will be encouraged.
7. Emphasis will be laid on development of marketing infrastructure and setting up of agro-processing units in the producing areas to minimize wastage, especially of perishable produce and create off-farm employment opportunities in rural areas.
8. Active support for the promotion of cooperative form of enterprises to ensure greater autonomy and operational freedom and improve their functioning will be the endeavor of the state government.
9. Promotion of private investment in agriculture and adoption of public-private partnership (PPP) across agricultural supply chain for linking the farmers with the market in efficient and effective manner.

Expected Outcome

1. With the commencement of proposed Agriculture Policy 2013 , outcomes envisaged are;
2. Optimization of farm resources and improved environment.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
3. Sustainable growth in agricultural production and productivity for assured food and nutritional security.
4. Formulation and time bound implementation of need based programmes.
5. Transparency in implementation of programmes.
6. Introduction of new agro-based enterprises.
7. Increased role of private sector in state agriculture development.
8. Improved net economic return and family income.