Gorakhpur (UP)

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday claimed that between 2005-2014 lakhs of farmers across the country committed suicide, while asserting that the situation has changed over the past 12 years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.

Addressing the inaugural session of the joint Kharif Productivity Seminar-2026 for the Gorakhpur, Basti and Azamgarh divisions here, Adityanath said the transformation in the agriculture sector has enabled farmers to move towards self-reliance and become active participants in the country's development.

"If we look at the period from 2005 to 2014, lakhs of farmers committed suicide across the country. There was a tragedy behind these incidents.

Farmers were not getting quality seeds, cultivation costs were rising, productivity was declining and they were not receiving fair prices for their produce under the MSP system," he said.

He also alleged that there were inadequate arrangements for disaster management and relief for farmers affected by natural calamities during that period.

Contrasting the situation with the present, Adityanath said farmers are now receiving better returns for their efforts and benefiting from reforms introduced by the Centre and the state government.

"Over the last 12 years, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, unprecedented changes have taken place in agriculture and farming. Farmers are now moving towards the goal of self-reliance while becoming part of the mainstream of society and nation-building," he said.

He said the improved condition of the agriculture sector has played a key role in transforming Uttar Pradesh into one of the country's leading agricultural economies.

"Today, the farmer who works hard in the field is also getting a better price for his produce. This has helped bring Uttar Pradesh into the category of prosperous states and removed the tag of backwardness," Adityanath said.

Highlighting the state's performance, he said Uttar Pradesh has succeeded in raising its agricultural growth rate from around eight per cent to nearly 18 per cent and has achieved significant progress in food production.

Despite ranking fourth in terms of area, the state produces the highest quantity of food grains in the country, he said.

The chief minister said the state also leads the country in the operation of sugar mills, production of sugar and ethanol, and is the largest producer of potatoes, vegetables and milk.

"This has become possible because along with government initiatives, our farmers have worked hard and adopted new practices," he said.

Calling for sustainable agricultural practices, Adityanath urged farmers to reduce the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides to improve the quality of agricultural produce and enhance export potential.

"We must ensure that the food grains, vegetables and other crops we produce are grown with minimum use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides so that they meet global standards and become suitable for exports," he said.

Highlighting natural farming as the better option for the country, he said this will not only show gratitude towards 'gaumata' (mother cow) but also be a medium to save your farming from chemical fertilisers and reduce the cost as well.

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Adityanath also lauded farmers for their practical knowledge and experience, saying they possess scientific understanding of agriculture.

"Who can be a greater scientist than a farmer? A farmer knows when to sow a crop, when to irrigate it and what steps are required at every stage. What is needed is greater coordination and sharing of knowledge among farmers," he said.