The initiatives taken by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aditynath for the last four years have started showing positive results in farming. Potato farming has been done in every district of the state this year. Uttar Pradesh has set a record this year to produce potatoes in the country.
Uttar Pradesh is an agricultural state. About 58 percent of people are dependent on agriculture. But, the contribution of agriculture to the GDP is only 26 percent. After coming into power, CM Adityanath took the decision to increase agricultural production in the state. The govt sent the agriculture dept officers to different villages to help the farmers.
According to the horticulture dept officers, the 25 districts of UP have done planned potato farming this year. The officers added that the UP may become the 2nd or 3rd state this year in terms of potato production. They claimed that if the farmers of the state follow the suggestions by the govt, the state would be the first in rank.
UP is the largest potato producing state in the country. Out of the total production, UP contributes to 35 percent. In the state, potatoes are sown in the 6.1 lakh hectare land.
The last year UP produced 147.77 lakh tons of potatoes. Apart from UP, West Bengal, Bihar, Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana also produce potatoes. Till a few years ago, the farmers did struggle for the better price of potatoes. However, potato farming is now profitable for farmers in the state.
Multinational food and beverage company PepsiCo is going to set up a potato chips production in the state with an investment of Rs 814 crore. This unit will be set up on about 35-acre land by the State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA) in the Koshi-Mathura. It is estimated that around 15,000 people will get employment through the chips factory.
