Uttar Pradesh Set to Lead India’s Agri-Export Revolution with Reconstituted Council and Investment Roundtable

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh has taken a decisive step toward transforming itself into a global leader in agri-exports with the reconstitution of its Agriculture Council and the launch of an investment roundtable. The newly revamped council will serve as the state’s apex platform for policy advocacy, agribusiness development, trade facilitation, and investment promotion in coordination with government departments and key stakeholders across the agricultural value chain.

Highlighting the initiative, ICFA Director Vivek Mathur emphasized that the restructuring marks a strategic move to position Uttar Pradesh as a powerhouse of sustainable agriculture and export-led rural development. “The council will bridge the gaps between policy and practice, farmers and markets, and investments and outcomes,” he said.

Former UPSAC Chairman Mukesh Bahadur Singh, credited with a successful tenure, has been elevated as Executive Member of the ICFA National Policy Council. The new leadership line-up includes Ghanshyam Khandelwal, Chairman of BL Agro Industries, as Council President, Roshan Lal Tamak, Executive Director & CEO of DCM Shriram Ltd., as Vice President, and Dr. Sanjay Singh, Director General of UP-CAR, as Co-Chair.

Speaking at the roundtable, Amit Ghosh underlined untapped opportunities in fisheries, animal husbandry, and poultry. Stressing the urgent need for investments in cold storage, solar-powered preservation, and rural processing infrastructure, he noted that despite being a leading egg producer, India continues to import due to supply chain gaps. He called Uttar Pradesh’s progressive egg policy a gamechanger for boosting both domestic production and exports.

Chief Guest Dinesh Pratap Singh, Minister of State for Horticulture, Agri-Marketing and Agri-Exports, praised the initiative and reaffirmed his belief in the state’s vast agricultural potential. “With a clear roadmap for farmers, industry, and institutions, Uttar Pradesh can accelerate growth and significantly expand its export capacity,” he said. Singh stressed that stakeholder consultations should not remain confined to state capitals but must extend to districts and blocks, urging ICFA to lead grassroots-level engagements.

The roundtable, themed “Shaping the Future of Agriculture in Northern India”, saw active participation from senior officials of agriculture, horticulture, and animal husbandry departments, alongside representatives from NABARD, DAHD, Invest UP, and Mandi Parishad. Academic contributions came from experts including Dr. Dinesh Singh (ICAR-Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research), Dr. Ajit Kumar Shasani (CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute), and Dr. T. Damodaran (ICAR-Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture). Industry leaders like Navneet Ravikar and Rajiv Arora (BL Agro) also shared insights on investment priorities and public-private partnerships.

Adding momentum, ICFA Director Tushar Sharma announced that the fourth edition of ICFA’s flagship international agri-expo AgroWorld 2025 will, for the first time, be hosted in Lucknow instead of New Delhi. “This strategic move will bring global investors, agri-tech leaders, and buyers directly to the heart of Uttar Pradesh,” he said, underscoring the state’s growing role as a hub for agricultural innovation and trade.

With its progressive policies, strong institutional framework, and renewed leadership, Uttar Pradesh appears poised to spearhead India’s agri-export revolution and emerge as a global player in sustainable agriculture.

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