World Bank delegation praises UP agri practices

Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Growth and Rural Enterprise Ecosystem Strengthening Project (UPAGREES), which is working to make agriculture and allied sectors in UP more productive, climate-resilient and market-oriented, has achieved significant implementation progress. It has now commenced field-level activities among farmers in 28 selected districts.

The project aims to make agriculture and allied sectors more productive, climate-resilient, and market-oriented.

A six-member World Bank support mission visited UP from June 1 to 5 to review progress. The mission expressed satisfaction with the project’s progress and noted that UPAGREES is moving from planning into active field implementation, with a strong focus on climate resilience, technology adoption, and improving farmers’ incomes across vulnerable districts of UP.

In the paddy sector, demonstration plots are being set up in eastern Uttar Pradesh with support from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), providing practical training to farmers. The state government is also distributing quality agricultural inputs free of cost.

During its visit, the World Bank team assessed field-level impact. In Varanasi, it reviewed innovations in paddy cultivation and interacted with farmers, who reported improved productivity and better cost management. In Bahraich, the team examined progress in fisheries, including the use of modern techniques and improved fish seed.