UP Agriculture department has dedicated 2018 as `millet year’

The UP Agriculture department has dedicated 2018 as `millet year’ aiming to promote production of coarse grains. For doubling farmers' income in the next five years, the government has focused its attention on increasing production of oil seeds and pulses.

Agriculture minister Surya Pratap Shahi said in Lucknow on Tuesday the government has launched `Harit Kranti’ scheme under National Food Security Mission in districts with low agriculture productivity for increasing farmers' income. He said that cultivation of oilseeds, particularly sesame, will be promoted under the scheme.    

``The government intends to promote cultivation of sesame crop in rain fed but with low incident of water logging. Along with oilseeds, the government also intends to promote cultivation of pulses and soybean across the state,’’ said Shahi.  He said during the current fiscal as many as 78,200 free mini kits would be distributed among farmers.

"Under the National Food Security Mission, Agriculture department will organize motivational programme for farmers across the state. In the current fiscal, agriculture fair will be organized in each district for apprising farmers with the latest technology in agriculture," he said.

"By March 31,2018, soil health card will be provided to all farmers in the state for which an intensive campaign will be launched later this month.  On May 2 , `Agriculture welfare seminar’ will be organized at each development block in the state where farmers will be apprised about possible methods for enhancing income by taking up allied activities like bee -keeping, fisheries and dairy," Shahi said.