Yogi govt to ensure quality seeds for farmers in UP

Lucknow : In a significant step to boost agricultural productivity, the Yogi Adityanath government is set to free farmers from worries over seed quality by providing them with high-grade, affordable seeds. Recognizing that seeds are the most crucial agricultural investment—directly impacting crop yield and product quality—the state government is preparing to make Uttar Pradesh self-reliant in seed production.

Poor-quality seeds have long been a major challenge for farmers. A recent report highlights the gravity of the issue: in 2023–2024, of the 1,33,588 seed samples tested, 3,630 were found substandard. Low germination rates and delayed re-sowing due to bad seeds often lead to wasted investment in land preparation, fertilizers, and ultimately, reduced yields.

To address this, the state government will establish five state-of-the-art seed parks across different agro-climatic zones—Western UP, Terai, Central, Bundelkhand, and Eastern UP—under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. These parks will cater to region-specific crop requirements, ensuring farmers get quality seeds suited to their local conditions.

The plan involves an investment of Rs 2,500 crore over the next three years. The Agriculture Department has already identified six large farms with existing infrastructure, ranging from 200 to over 400 hectares, which will be leased to interested parties for seed production.

With agriculture being the backbone of the Indian economy—employing 42.3% of the population as per the 2023–2024 Economic Survey—and an even larger share in Uttar Pradesh, this initiative is expected to significantly benefit millions of farmers.
The project has already received cabinet approval, and official orders have been issued to kickstart the ambitious seed production program. The Yogi government has started work on Uttar Pradesh’s first seed park in Lucknow, which will be named in honor of former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh, remembered as a ‘messiah of farmers.’ The park will feature advanced facilities for seed production, processing, storage, speed breeding, and hybrid laboratories.

The first seed park is being set up on 130.63 acres of government agricultural land in Attari, Lucknow, with an investment of around Rs 266.70 crore. It will include 26 seed blocks dedicated to high-quality seed production.

To encourage private participation, the government is offering incentives to investors. Land will be leased for 30 years, extendable up to 90 years if needed. Each seed park is expected to create about 1,200 direct and 3,000 indirect jobs, while connecting nearly 40,000 seed-producing farmers. Across all five parks planned in the state, the initiative will generate around 6,000 direct and 15,000 indirect employment opportunities.

Uttar Pradesh has 162 lakh hectares of cultivable land and requires nearly 139.43 lakh quintals of seeds every year. Currently, about 50% of seeds for major crops are sourced from southern states like Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, costing the government nearly Rs 3,000 crore annually. According to departmental data, 20 percent of wheat, 51 percent of paddy, 74 percent of maize, 95 percent of barley, 50 percent of pulses and 52 percent of oilseeds seeds are largely imported from outside the state.

Becoming self-reliant in seed production is expected to save the state around Rs 3,000 crore each year and strengthen the local economy by creating jobs in production, logistics, and transport. It will also help improve the Seed Replacement Rate (SRR), which directly impacts crop yields.

Despite having the country’s largest cultivable land and highest irrigated area, Uttar Pradesh lags behind states like Punjab and Haryana in per-hectare yields due to a lack of quality seeds. For instance, UP’s wheat yield stands at 26.75 quintals per hectare compared to Punjab’s 40.35, while rice yields are 37.35 against Haryana’s 45.33. Officials estimate that better seed availability could narrow this gap by 15–20%.

With over 3 crore families dependent on agriculture and UP leading the nation in food grain and milk production, the seed park initiative is poised to bring long-term benefits to the state’s farming sector and rural economy.