UP Unveils Rs 2,000 Cr Plan For Natural Farming Under Amrit Dhara Yojana

Lucknow, Mar 3 (KNN) The Uttar Pradesh government has unveiled an extensive plan to promote natural farming with cow protection as its central component, allocating Rs 2,000 crore in the recent budget specifically for stray cattle protection initiatives.

Under the newly introduced Amrit Dhara Yojana, cattle owners will have simplified access to loans up to Rs 10 lakh. 

The scheme enables farmers maintaining between two and ten cows to secure financing from ten participating banks that have been specifically empanelled to serve farmers and cattle owners. 

Loans up to Rs 3 lakh will be available without requiring a guarantor, making the program particularly accessible. This initiative aims to encourage traditional farming methods while simultaneously addressing the stray cattle issue.

At the launch event, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath highlighted the multifaceted benefits of the program, stating, "Natural farming not only ensures better health for people and soil but also creates a sustainable model where cow shelters can become self-sufficient."

The state government has established an extensive network of cow shelters throughout Uttar Pradesh and has allocated Rs 1,001 crore in the supplementary budget for their maintenance and operation. 

In the next phase of development, these shelters will be transformed into economically viable units by utilising cow dung and urine for organic farming purposes.

This initiative comes at an opportune time when global demand for organic produce is experiencing significant growth, particularly in the post-pandemic environment. 

Uttar Pradesh's agricultural exports have demonstrated remarkable progress, doubling from Rs 88,000 crore in 2017-18 to Rs 170,000 crore in 2023-24.

The government is specifically focused on promoting natural farming in villages along the Ganges and in the Bundelkhand region, with plans to expand these efforts to additional riverine areas. 

Various support programs, including the 'Mini Nandini Yojana' and MGNREGA, are being utilised to assist farmers in constructing cow sheds and biogas plants at subsidised rates.

Agricultural Minister SP Shahi expressed the administration's vision, stating, "Our goal is to make Uttar Pradesh a hub of natural farming while ensuring the prosperity of farmers." 

He further noted that the latest initiative has received positive responses from both farmers and environmental activists, who view it as a progressive step toward sustainable agriculture and ecological balance.

(KNN Bureau)