Uttar Pradesh: Agriculture | Course for UPPSC Preparation - UPPSC (UP) PDF Download

Introduction

Uttar Pradesh is the largest food grain producing State in India producing about 20% of the country’s total food grain production.  In the  recent financial year , the state produced approximately 57 million metric tons of food grains. However, the state is also characterized by extreme dependence on agriculture. About 80% of the population in U.P. live in the rural areas. It is rich in national resources (land and water) but has a high population density and declining soil fertility. Agriculture accounts for about 32% of GSDP.

Main crop of the State is Cereal and Pulses, Oilseeds are also grown in some area  but with low productivity. Relatively larger share in production is obviously attributed to higher foodgrain yield in the state

Uttar Pradesh:largest producer of wheat (34  million tonnes)

Agro Climatic Zones

The State of Uttar Pradesh falls under three agro-climatic zones viz.

• Agro Climatic Zone–IV: Middle Gangetic Plains region
• Agro Climatic Zone–V: Upper Gangetic Plains region
• Agro Climatic Zone–VIII:  Central Plateau and Hills region.

The Agro-climatic zone IV is further divided into three sub-zone

• North Eastern Plains Zone of Uttar Pradesh: This sub-zone covers the districts of Baharaich, Gonda, Balrampur, Basti, Gorakhpur, Sidharth Nagar, Maharajgunj, Kushinagar and Deoria. Rainfall is quite high at about 1,210 mm, the climate is moist sub-humid to dry sub-humid. 73% of the land area is cultivated and about half of the cultivated land is irrigated. Tube wells are the major source of irrigation.
• Eastern Plain Zone of Uttar Pradesh:Azamgarh, Mau, Balia, Faizabad, Ghazipur, Jaunpur, Sant Ravidas Nagar and Varanasi districts fall under this sub zone. Rainfall is adequate with a normal of 1,025 mm. The climate is dry sub-humid to moist sub-humid. Over 70% of the land is cultivated and more than 80% of the cultivated area is irrigated.
• Vindhyan Zone of Uttar Pradesh: Mirzapur and Sonbhadra districts of Uttar Pradesh are the Vindhyan sub-zone of the Middle Gangetic Plain zone. Rainfall is adequate at about 1,134 mm; the climate is similar to the other parts of the eastern plains of Uttar Pradesh. However, the region has a very high forest cover of about 40% of the land. Less than a third of this land is cultivated and only a third of this is irrigated. 

The Agro-climatic zone- V is among the larger and very thickly populated agro-climatic zones. It covers 32 districts of Uttar Pradesh. A large part of the geographical area is cultivated and is well irrigated. This is the most developed region of the State of Uttar Pradesh. Over 70% of the area is sown and nearly 65% of this is irrigated.  The zone is characterized by semi-arid and sub-humid conditions. The mean Annual rainfall varies between 700 and 1,000 mm.
There are three sub-zones under this agro-climatic zone.

• Central Plains – Allahabad, Fatehpur, Pratapgarh, Sultanpur, Rae- Bareili, Unnao, Lucknow, Bara Banki, Sitapur, Hardoi, Kheri and Pilibhit districts fall under this sub-zone. The region receives on an average 979 mm of rainfall; the climate ranges from dry sub-humid to semi-arid and the soil is alluvium calcareous sandy loam. About 62% of the land is cultivated of which 56% is irrigated. 
• North-Western Plains– This sub-zone covers the districts of Shahjahanpur, Bareilly, Rampur, Moradabad, Bijnor, Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad and Bulandshar of Uttar Pradesh. This region has the highest land productivity in the State. About 70% land is under agriculture and another 5% land is under forest cover. 76% of the net sown area is irrigated. Tube wells are the predominant source of irrigation. The zone receives, on an average 907 mm rainfall, the climate is dry sub-humid to semi-arid and the soil is loam to sandy loam. 
• South-Western Plains- In spite of a relatively high proportion of arable and irrigated cropped area, land productivity in the southwestern plains of Uttar Pradesh is low. This is largely on account of cultivation of low value crops principally wheat and bajra. The region covers the districts of Badaun, Aligarh, Mathura, Agra, Etah, Farrukhabad, Kannauj, Mainpuri, Firozabad, Etawah, Kanpur Dehat and Kanpur. The climate is semi-arid and the soil type is alluvium calcareous clay. The region receives about 721 mm of rainfall. More than 74% of the net sown area is irrigated and over 69% land is cultivated. 

Under the Zone-VIII, the sub-zone Bundelkhand (Uttar Pradesh)  includes five districts from South-central Uttar Pradesh, viz. Jalaun, hansi, Lalitpur, Hamirpur and Banda. It receives about 900 mm of rainfall. A little over 60% of the area is cultivated, but compared to other parts of Uttar Pradesh, the sub-zone has less developed irrigation facilities. Only about 25% of the cultivated area is irrigated as against a State average of nearly 60%. Soil erosion is high and land productivity is low. 

Cropping Pattern

• The soils in the region falling under Agro-climatic zone IV are alluvium-derived soils mostly khaddar (recent alluvium) and hangar (old alluvium). In some area the soil is highly calcareous. The soils are loamy and high in organic matter content. Rice, maize, pigeon pea, moong bean crops are common in kharif season. In post-rainy (rabi) season wheat, lentil, Bengal gram, pea, and sesame and at some places groundnut is grown on residual soil moisture with one or two supplemental irrigation. The important cash crops of the region are sugarcane, potato, tobacco, chillies, turmeric and coriander with supplemental irrigation. Rice–wheat cropping system is more predominant.
• The dominant soil landscapes, representing the northern plains, constitute gently to very gently sloping lands. In some area the soil is highly calcareous. The soils in general are neutral in reaction and have moderate clay and low organic carbon content. Traditionally rain fed and irrigated agriculture is common. The main crops grown are rice, maize, pigeon pea, sorghum, pearl millet, moong beans during kharif and wheat, Bengal gram, green peas, rapeseed and mustard and lentil during rabi season. Sugarcane is the main cash crop. Rice–wheat cropping system is more predominant.

Key Agricultural Initiatives in Uttar Pradesh

The Uttar Pradesh government is taking several steps to boost the agricultural sector by integrating digital platforms, supporting startups, and promoting exports. Below is a detailed explanation of the key initiatives:

1. Connecting Farmers to Digital Platforms

The state government is focusing on integrating agriculture with digital commerce platforms like:

• ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce):
  1. An open-source network aimed at connecting buyers and sellers across various e-commerce platforms.
  2. Farmers and agri-businesses in Uttar Pradesh can sell their produce directly to buyers without being limited to one platform, promoting healthy competition and better price discovery.

• e-NAM (National Agriculture Market):
  1. A pan-India electronic trading portal for agricultural commodities.
  2. It reduces intermediaries, enabling farmers to directly connect with buyers and secure fair prices for their produce.
  3. The government plans to connect local Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) to these platforms, expanding their reach and market access.

2. Expansion of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)

FPOs play a critical role in improving farmers’ bargaining power and market presence.

• Current Status: Uttar Pradesh already has 3,240 active FPOs under the Atmanirbhar Krishak Samanvit Vikas Yojana.
• Future Plans:
  1. An additional 2,725 FPOs will be formed to bring more farmers into organized groups, benefiting 27.25 lakh farmers.
  2. A dedicated Farmer Producer Cell will be established to guide these FPOs in leveraging digital platforms like ONDC and e-NAM.

3. Support for Agri-Startups

To encourage agricultural startups, the state is:

• Allowing them to collaborate with any e-commerce or digital marketing platform of their choice.
• Streamlining the licensing process for essential inputs and services such as:
  1.Fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides.
  2. Market yard licenses required for operating agricultural markets.
  3. GST (Goods and Services Tax) registration for easier tax compliance.
  4. FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) licenses to ensure food safety standards are met.

This simplification aims to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and create a more startup-friendly environment.

4. Boosting Food Processing and AI in Agriculture

The government is collaborating with industry partners to:

• Enhance Food Processing Infrastructure: This will help reduce post-harvest losses, increase the shelf life of produce, and add value to raw agricultural products.
• Adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI technologies will be used to improve productivity, optimize resource use, and offer predictive insights for better crop management..

5. Government Schemes to Promote Agri-Exports

Uttar Pradesh is leveraging several national schemes to enhance the export potential of its agricultural products:

• Operation Greens: Focuses on stabilizing the supply and prices of key commodities like fruits and vegetables to reduce price volatility and ensure farmers get fair returns.

• Market Access Initiative (MAI): Supports exporters in participating in international trade fairs, conducting market research, and exploring new export markets.

• SAMPADA (Scheme for Agro-Marine Processing and Development of Agro-Processing Clusters): Aims to modernize agro-processing infrastructure, reducing post-harvest losses and making Indian products more competitive globally.

• National Horticulture Mission (NHM): Promotes sustainable horticulture practices, including organic and precision farming, to produce high-value crops for export.

• APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority):Provides guidelines and support to ensure quality, sustainability, and certification for agricultural exports.

• Agri Export Zones (AEZs): Special zones are being set up across the state to focus on specific agricultural commodities, offering better infrastructure and technology for exports.

• Promotion of Organic Farming: Organic farming practices are being encouraged to tap into the growing demand for organic products, both domestically and internationally.

Conclusion

These initiatives reflect the Uttar Pradesh government’s commitment to modernizing agriculture, improving farmers' incomes, and making the state a hub for agricultural exports. By integrating technology, simplifying processes, and promoting global collaboration, Uttar Pradesh aims to transform its agricultural landscape for long-term growth and sustainability.