UP government will solve the problem of seeds, 5 new seed parks will be built in these districts

UP News : The Yogi government has started an important program for seed production. It has been decided to build five seed parks (Western region, Terai region, Central region, Bundelkhand region and Eastern region) on the PPP model, which will be according to the crops in the nine agro-climatic zones of the state. 

Each park will have an area of ​​at least 200 hectares. The agriculture department has six such farms with basic facilities. Of these, two farms are of 200 hectares, two of 200 to 300 hectares and two of more than 400 hectares. If the state government wants, it can lease them out.

Seeds are the most important input in agriculture. The yield and quality of the crop depends only on the quality of the seeds. From the preparation of the field to the cost of seeds and fertilizers applied at the time of sowing, everything goes waste if there is any kind of defect in the seeds. Delay in re-sowing affects the yield. Low germination of seeds also affects the yield.

At present, about fifty percent of the seeds for the major crops of the state come from South India. The Yogi government has made a comprehensive plan for seed production in Uttar Pradesh so that farmers can get quality seeds suitable for the agricultural climate of the state. Producing quality seeds locally is expected to improve the yield and quality of the produce of the farmers.

In terms of agriculture, Uttar Pradesh has the largest cultivable land (166 lakh hectares). More than 80 percent of cultivable land is irrigated. The livelihood of about 3 crore families in the state depends on agriculture. 

Uttar Pradesh is number one in the country in food grain and milk production, while it is second and third in the production of fruits and flowers.

Seeds worth Rs 3,000 crore have to be imported from other states every year. The government has to spend about Rs 3000 crore every year for this. 

Hybrid seeds of all crops come from Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. According to departmental data, 22% of wheat, 51% of paddy, 74% of maize, 95% of barley, 50% of pulses and 52% of oilseeds seeds come from other states.

Seed park will save about three thousand crore rupees per year. There will be more investment in plant-wise. Local people will get work from plant to unloading, logistics loading and transportation. Seed Replacement Rate (SSR) will increase. Yield will be affected by this.

UP, despite having the largest irrigated area, is the leading state in terms of per hectare per quintal yield, quality seeds will reduce the production gap. Unavailability of quality seeds is a major reason for this, among other reasons. 

Wheat production per hectare in Uttar Pradesh is 26.75 quintals, according to departmental data. While it is 40.35 quintals in Punjab. Similarly, paddy production in Haryana is 45.33 quintals, there is a similar gap in the production of gram and mustard as compared to other states. Quality seeds can reduce this gap by 15 to 20 percent.