Lucknow: In a landmark initiative aimed at transforming Uttar Pradesh’s agricultural sector, Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi announced plans for the establishment of Organic Testing Labs and Tissue Culture Labs across the state. These facilities will ensure that agricultural products meet international standards, opening up global markets for farmers and enhancing their incomes.
Speaking at a presentation held at Vidhan Bhawan, Minister Shahi emphasized that these laboratories would significantly benefit farmers cultivating bananas, potatoes, sugarcane, bamboo, and figs. He stated, “Tissue Culture Labs will develop high-quality varieties of these crops, meeting farmers’ demands, while Organic Testing Labs will certify products to meet European and American standards, reducing dependency on other states for testing.”
Key Highlights of the Initiative
- Tissue Culture Labs:
- Proposed to be established in agricultural universities across Uttar Pradesh.
- Aimed at developing superior quality crop varieties.
- Focus on high-demand crops such as bananas, potatoes, sugarcane, bamboo, and figs.
- Organic Testing Labs:
- Will enable testing of organic products to meet NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) and international standards.
- Ensure farmers gain maximum profit by entering global markets.
Addressing Dependence on Other States
Minister Shahi noted that until now, farmers producing organic goods had to rely on testing facilities in other states. This limited their access to the global market, despite producing high-quality crops. The new labs will bridge this gap, offering comprehensive testing in Uttar Pradesh itself.
Additional Developments
- Proposed Auditoriums: The minister reviewed presentations on auditoriums proposed in Banda, Ayodhya, and Meerut Agricultural Universities, instructing officials to maintain the highest standards of construction.
- Property Management: He directed university vice-chancellors to maintain property registers and record details of agricultural lands under their jurisdiction.
- 150 Years of Agriculture Department: To commemorate 150 years of the Agriculture Department’s establishment, Minister Shahi urged officials to organize extensive programs to disseminate benefits of departmental schemes effectively to farmers.
Dignitaries Present
The event saw participation from Agriculture Minister of State Baldev Singh Aulakh, Principal Secretary of Agriculture Ravindra Kumar, Director of Agriculture Sanjay Singh, Director General of UPCAR (Uttar Pradesh Council of Agricultural Research), and vice-chancellors of Ayodhya and Kanpur Agricultural Universities, along with senior officials of the Agriculture Department.
This initiative is expected to bring prosperity to farmers by enhancing crop quality, ensuring adherence to international standards, and fostering innovation in agriculture. With this development, Uttar Pradesh is set to lead the way in modernizing India’s agricultural sector.
