Yogi Government’s consistent focus on inclusive development of villages and farmers

India’s soul resides in its villages. When villages and food-producing farmers are empowered, the nation prospers, and only then can Uttar Pradesh achieve its goal of inclusive development. With this principle at its core, the Yogi government has prioritized villages and farmers and undertaken the rebuilding of Uttar Pradesh over the past 9 years. This new Uttar Pradesh is narrowing the divide between cities and villages and curbing migration from rural areas.

Carrying this vision forward, budget 2026-27 clearly elevates agriculture and rural development to new heights. It promotes rural infrastructure, connects farmers to new technologies and markets, links them with entrepreneurship and creates new employment avenues in agriculture and allied sectors. It ensures that farmers are not merely beneficiaries but active partners in the economic progress of Uttar Pradesh.

From the ₹36,000 crore farm loan waiver soon after assuming office in 2017 to the transfer of ₹94,668.58 crore under "PM Kisan Samman Nidhi" by Central Government, the double-engine government has placed farmers at the center of economic prosperity. By transferring benefits directly to bank accounts through DBT, the role of middlemen has been eliminated.

In Budget 2026-27, an allocation of ₹10,888 crore for agricultural schemes clearly reflects the government’s priority- 20% higher than the previous budget. Provisions include ₹155 crore for externally aided projects to establish world-class hatcheries and training centers under aquaculture infrastructure in the UP Agri-EZ project; ₹245 crore for setting up Agri-Export Hubs; ₹75 crore for a revolving fund scheme for Farmer Producer Organizations; and ₹673.84 crore to convert farmers’ diesel pump sets to solar. These provisions will support technological upgradation in agriculture and allied sectors.

The budget once again strengthens the rural economy. 'National Mission on Natural Farming' is being implemented across all districts, covering 94,300 hectares, with an allocation of ₹298 crore. Continuous electricity supply to private tube wells has been ensured with a proposal of ₹2,400 crore. About ₹103 crore has been allocated for 'Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Kisan Samriddhi Yojana'. These measures underscore the government’s sustained efforts to build a robust support system for farmers.

Sugarcane farmers, long neglected by previous governments, have seen renewed prosperity since 2017. The Yogi government has made a record sugarcane payment exceeding ₹3.04 lakh crore. For the crushing season 2025-26, sugarcane prices were increased by ₹30 per quintal: ₹400 per quintal for early varieties and ₹390 per quintal for common varieties. This hike will result in an additional payment of around ₹3,000 crore to sugarcane farmers. This is the fourth increase during Yogi government’s tenure and will boost farmers’ incomes while injecting fresh energy into the rural economy.

Yogi government has also opened new avenues for dairy and fisheries farmers. A dairy development program is being implemented through 19 milk unions in the cooperative sector. In Mathura, a dairy project initially proposed at a capacity of 30,000 liters per day has now been upgraded to a proposed capacity of 100,000 liters per day. The government is also emphasizing the strengthening and revival of milk unions. Addressing the challenges posed by stray cattle, ₹2,000 crore is being allocated for their upkeep. Fisheries farmers also being considered in the budget. Additionally, 36.87 lakh farmers have received free oilseed mini-kits; around 83,000 solar pumps have been installed; nearly 32,000 farm ponds have been constructed; more than 2,46,000 agricultural implements have been distributed; and nearly 20 lakh farmers have participated in 'Kisan Pathshalas', collectively transforming the lives of food-producing farmers.

Through paddy procurement drive, Yogi government’s clear objective is to ensure the economic prosperity of farmers. While paddy is being procured seamlessly, payments are being made directly to farmers’ bank accounts through DBT, eliminating middlemen and ensuring timely payments. Procurement is conducted at the Minimum Support Price (MSP). As of 12 noon on February 18 in the paddy procurement season 2025-26, 12.78 lakh farmers have been registered. Through 4,869 procurement centers, more than 10.17 lakh farmers have sold 60.98 lakh metric tonnes of paddy.

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“Yogi government identified villages and farmers as the foundation of prosperity and has translated this vision into reality over nearly nine years. Whether through budgetary provisions or by connecting farming with advanced technologies via Kisan Pathshalas, government is steering farmers toward self-reliance and entrepreneurship. For inclusive development, it is essential that those engaged in agriculture and allied sectors are not solely dependent on subsidies but are equal partners in the state’s economic growth. This bridges the urban-rural divide and curbs migration. Yogi government is consistently working effectively in this direction.”

*Ravindra Kumar Singh, Farmer Leader, Azamgarh*