MoUs signed before CM Yogi Adityanath between UPDASP and Google & Network for Humanity, ITC and Aquabridge under World Bank-funded UP-AGREES Project
MoUs will give new direction to the future of agriculture in UP, Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bundelkhand have potential and also need change: CM
Productivity, Technology, Climate Resilient, Market, Enterprise, Farmer Prosperity are the core philosophy of UP-AGREES: CM Yogi
Lucknow, August 2026 : Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stated, "The MoUs signed with Google & Global and Network for Humanity, ITC and Aquabridge are a commitment to give a new direction to agricultural productivity, farmers' income and the future of agriculture in UP. UP-AGREES is an important initiative to take agriculture in the state from productivity towards prosperity and the future economy. Its objective is not only to increase production, but also to simultaneously strengthen farmers' income, the climate resilient capacity of farming, value addition and rural entrepreneurship. These MoUs will play an important role in increasing agricultural productivity and the income of food providers in 21 districts of Eastern Uttar Pradesh and 7 districts of Bundelkhand."
In the presence of the Chief Minister, these MoUs were signed on Wednesday with UPDASP (Uttar Pradesh Diversified Agriculture Support Project) under the World Bank-funded Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Growth and Rural Enterprise Ecosystem Strengthening (UP-AGREES) project.
On the occasion, CM Yogi stated, "Last year, the President of the World Bank had visited. There were areas of Uttar Pradesh that were extremely backward in agricultural productivity at that time. We discussed with him what should be done there, and then we took forward this UP-AGREES scheme. UP-AGREES is being seen working on the ground in UP in accordance with the vision of PM Modi ji and the President of the World Bank. This MoU has been signed to take that chain forward in a strong manner. For decades, we kept hearing that the food provider farmers were being hailed. Claims were made that food production was increasing in the country. Production did increase, but the farmer remained where he was. The farmer was never told how the cost would be reduced, who would buy his crop and how his produce would reach the mandi."
The Chief Minister stated, "This World Bank-supported project of approximately Rs 4000 crore focuses on Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bundelkhand. These regions have potential as well as a need for transformation. They were neglected for decades, considering backwardness to be synonymous with these areas. The area that was once a cause of concern and stress for the government is today becoming a priority for the government and also a reason for the productivity of the state."
He further informed, "We are implementing this project in 123 development blocks across 28 districts of Eastern UP and Bundelkhand. Its objective is to benefit 10 lakh farmers, 35 thousand fish-producing farmers and 3 lakh women, covering approximately 6 lakh hectares. Under the project, 1.75 lakh hectares have been covered in Kharif 2026. In the Rabi crop (2026-27) as well, the target is to increase the productivity of wheat, peas, gram, lentils and mustard, among others, across 1.75 lakh hectares. We have to make the farmer not merely a producer, but also a prosperity partner of modern agriculture and the economy."
The CM said, through the partnership with IRRI, scientific and climate vigilant methods are being taken to the fields. In the Kharif season 2026, Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) is being experimented with across 3000 hectares. Along with paddy, crops such as maize, millet, sorghum, pigeon pea, sesame, urad and groundnut have also been included in the action plan. The strength of Uttar Pradesh's agricultural tradition and the convergence of modern science will help in taking this forward. Global science is now reaching the local farm.
The CM stated, "Work is also being undertaken towards developing an Open Network for Agriculture in partnership with Google and Network for Humanity. This will be such a digital public infrastructure for agriculture, whose concept is also inspired by open digital network models such as UPI and ONDC. Through this, farmers will not need separate apps and platforms for different services. Instead, our objective is to provide them access to weather, market prices, soil, agricultural advisory services and various Agritech services through a single interface."
The CM stated, Agritech startups and companies will also be able to provide services to a large number of farmers through the open network. Our objective is to reduce costs, provide more income with fewer resources, and also provide quality in accordance with the global market.
He added, "Under UP-AGREES, a partnership is also being undertaken with ITC to develop climate resilient commodity clusters for paddy and wheat. Expansion of climate smart agriculture across more than two lakh acres has been proposed. This will include modern methods such as zero tillage, Direct Seeded Rice, climate resilient improved seeds and decision nutrient management."
The CM said, "A proposal has been made to develop a 1500-acre paddy cluster in Bahraich in accordance with DU Compliant and MRL standards. A target has also been set for increasing the farmer's income per acre by 20-30 percent, reducing the use of urea by 25 percent and achieving savings of 25-30 percent in labour and irrigation. Now, the farmer of UP will not remain merely a grain producer, but will also become a partner in the new agri economy linked with quality, capability and export standards."
The CM informed, "Under UP-AGREES, partnerships are also being undertaken with leading private companies for crops such as paddy, wheat, chilli, maize, green peas and tomato, which will enable farmers to get access to markets and better procurement arrangements. Under this, production, collection, storage, processing and markets will be further strengthened at every stage of the value chain."
He further added, "We want to develop a complete blue economy ecosystem in Uttar Pradesh by connecting aquaculture with science, technology, processing and entrepreneurship. Keeping this in mind, we are going to take fisheries from a traditional activity towards a technology-driven enterprise with Aquabridge. Through the partnership with Aquabridge, fish farmers, cooperative societies and entrepreneurs will be connected with modern technology and training. Special focus will be given to AI-based aquaculture management, automatic feeding technology, modern training and capacity building."
The CM said, "Under UP-AGREES, an Integrated Aquaculture project is being developed across 60 acres under the IMC Industrial Corridor in Unnao. A hatchery, feed manufacturing, processing facility and dedicated training centre have also been proposed in this. Preparations are underway to take agriculture from the farm to food processing, export and the global value chain. A proposal has been made to develop a Mega Food Park and Agri Export Centre near Noida International Airport. Its objective is to connect UP's agricultural produce beyond the mandi with processing, value addition, logistics and export."
He further added, the new formula and core philosophy of UP-AGREES is Productivity, Technology, Climate Resilient, Market, Enterprise, Farmer Prosperity. Our objective is to take farmers towards productivity through better seeds and technology, sustainability through climate smart farming, access to information and services through digital networks, markets through commodity clusters, value addition through processing and infrastructure, and rural entrepreneurship and rural development through FPOs and private investors.
The CM stated, "The 21st century will be driven not only by soil and weather, but also by data science, science and technology and market intelligence. With UP-AGREES, the state government is preparing agriculture for this future. Our objective is to make the farmer an active partner in the new economy of agri innovation."
He continues by saying, the next phase of UP agriculture is to become a centre of smart agri regulation that takes productivity, sustainability and prosperity forward together. When farms become digital, farming becomes climate smart, production becomes quality-driven and the market becomes global, farmers' income will increase. This will also bring about the natural outcome of the agricultural model.
The CM honoured the guests by presenting them with ODOP mementoes. On this occasion, Labour and Employment Minister Anil Rajbhar, CEO of the UP Transformation Commission Manoj Kumar Singh, Agriculture Production Commissioner Deepak Kumar, Principal Secretary (Agriculture) Ravindra, Principal Secretary Pandhari Yadav, Anoop Jagwani of the World Bank, Siddharth Prakash of Google, Mo. Tabish of Aquabridge, Radha Kizhnattam of Network for Humanity, Sachin Sharma of ITC, CIP Director Dr. Sudhanshu Singh, Hemant Gaur of Siddhi Nayak Agro. Ltd., among others, were present.
