UP State Agriculture Council meeting announced the creation of an Executive Committee (EC) to work on the agenda of agriculture investments, exports, agribusiness, and agri-entrepreneurship through four different working groups to be created from the members of the Council
UP State Agriculture Council meeting announced the creation of an Executive Committee (EC) to work on the agenda of agriculture investments, exports, agribusiness, and agri-entrepreneurship through four different working groups to be created from the members of the Council. In addition, the policy working group will work closely with the state government in supporting the decision-making process through extensive research and data-driven policy advocacy.
UP is the largest producer of wheat, sugarcane, milk, potatoes, and numerous agriculture, horticulture, and fruit crops. However, its exports at ₹20,000 crores are way below its potential. It was the first state to introduce a comprehensive export policy and also the first state to sign up as a “partner state” with a budget of ₹400 crores to implement the policy. However, the budget lapsed during the COVID period, and ICFA has decided to pursue restoring it with the state as a top priority.
Similarly, ICFA will enable more investments in agriculture by working closely with Invest UP. The ICFA State Council created a committee to work closely with state agencies to mobilize investments in the food and agricultural sector of the state. Given the massive start-up wave sweeping the country, with approximately 12,000 agri-tech and food-tech start-ups, UP currently has fewer than 1,000 such start-ups. ICFA has decided to work on boosting agri-entrepreneurship in the state, leveraging its national network and its own All India Agri Start-up Platform.
The meeting was chaired by Mukesh Singh, Chairman of the UP State Agricultural Council, ICFA and was moderated by the Founding Convenor and Director of ICFA, Mr. Tushar Sharma. The meeting was attended by Dr. Mukesh Gautam, Advisor, World Bank; Mr. M.P. Bhatt, CEO, MCB Agritech Pvt Ltd; Dr. Sanjay Singh, DG, UPCAR; Dr. R.K. Tripathi, Advisor, National Seeds Corporation; Mr. Atul Kumar, GM (R), UP Cooperative Bank; Mr. Asif Riaz, Executive Director, Kisaancart; and Mr. D.P. Singh, President, UP Assocham.
Shreyasi Agarwal, Chief Executive Officer, Indian Chamber of Food and Agriculture (ICFA), graced the occasion.
