Lucknow: In the midst of the ongoing farmers’ protest against the Modi government’s three farm laws, the Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh Wednesday launched the ‘Mission Kisan Kalyan’ — an initiative to look for “progressive” farmers who can be projected as “role models” to help raise farm income.
Under the initiative, the government plans to select 100 “progressive” farmers from each of the 75 districts, who have advanced their income and production by employing innovative farming technologies.
These farmers will also be felicitated at seminars and programmes to be organised at block level where they can share their stories to encourage their fellow farmers.
In an exclusive interaction with ThePrint, UP cabinet minister and spokesperson of the state government Siddharth Nath Singh said the administration will seek assistance from “progressive” farmers in order to increase the income of the farming community by adopting and implementing innovative methods of farming.
“100 progressive farmers will be identified in every district on behalf of the government. They will then be honoured in front of their fellow farmers as role models,” Singh said.
The MSME minister said several farmers in UP are enhancing their cultivation and production by employing innovative technologies.
“Already there are hundreds of such farmers in every district of UP, they just need a platform from where they can also make others aware. The state government wants to present and promote such innovative and progressive farmers as role models,” Singh said.
Also read: Farmers and labourers over a privileged few – India is finally going the right way
How the farmers will be chosen
The 100 farmers from each district will be chosen with the help of panchayat samitis and village heads.
The Department of Agriculture, which has been entrusted with the responsibility to organise the campaign, will create a database of such farmers.
Two factors — usage of new technology and better income — will be considered as the criteria to select such farmers, said an official of the department.
In the end, a final list of 100 farmers from each district will be approved by the respective district magistrates, and will then be forwarded to the state government.
Another official of the department told ThePrint the details about the campaign will be announced during programmes to be held in 350 blocks from 6 January.
Farmers who have already been selected by the department so far will be felicitated during these programmes and will also be provided with a platform to share their experiences, said the official.
The government hopes that other farmers will seek inspiration from their success stories, added the official.
Micro-site for monitoring, highlighting role of women
For better monitoring of the initiative, a micro-site will also be developed, containing all the related information of the scheme.
According to sources in the agriculture department, district-wise information such as how many farmers were contacted during the campaign, how many farmers were interacted with will be uploaded on the micro-site for better monitoring.
A WhatsApp group of the 100 selected farmers of each district will also be set up.
A committee under the chairmanship of the commissioner of Agricultural Production will be constituted at the government level for smooth conduct of this campaign. The panel will have additional chief secretary, principal secretary and secretary of all departments associated with the campaign.
The initiative will also focus on highlighting the role of women in farming, considering their poor exposure in the sector. Instructions in this regard have been issued to all district magistrates on behalf of Chief Secretary Rajendra Tiwari, sources said.
Meanwhile, Congress state president Ajay Lallu termed the campaign an “eyewash”, saying welfare of the farmers can only take place if the government listens to the demands of the farmers protesting in Delhi, which also include peasants from western UP.
“But does the state government have any concerns about them? True welfare of the farmers will happen only when the government will listen to the demands of the agitating farmers. Will the government make some arrangements for their employment? Nothing is going to change by repeatedly humming words like ‘kisan kalyan’ (farmers’ welfare),” he told ThePrint.
Also read: This is how Modi govt plans to address farmers’ problems, end protests