Uttar Pradesh’s Agriculture Model Replicable Globally: World Bank President

New Delhi, Oct 17 (KNN) During the World Bank’s 2025 Annual Meetings, President Ajay Banga announced plans to replicate Uttar Pradesh’s resilient agriculture framework globally.

The model, which combines policy reform, infrastructure development, and technology-driven support for small farmers, has shown significant results in improving agricultural productivity and income.

Banga emphasised that building a sustainable agricultural ecosystem requires foundational reforms — including land rights clarity, irrigation facilities, rural roads, cold storage, and access to high-quality seeds and fertilisers.

He noted that small farmers worldwide face similar challenges, such as limited access to credit, quality inputs, and market linkages.

According to Banga, farmer producer organisations (FPOs) and cooperatives can bridge these gaps by aggregating demand, distributing inputs, providing credit or insurance, and connecting farmers directly with buyers.

“This is not a theoretical model — it has worked in Uttar Pradesh,” he said, highlighting the role of collaboration between government, private sector, and development partners.

He stressed the importance of integrating resilience from the beginning — through drought-resistant seeds, efficient water use, soil-specific fertilisers, crop insurance, and financial access.

Digital tools, including AI-based apps, can help diagnose crop diseases, advise on fertilizer use, alert farmers to weather risks, and enable secure payments. These digital records can also establish credit histories, helping reduce financing costs for small farmers.

Looking ahead, the World Bank plans to double its annual agribusiness investments to USD 9 billion by 2030.

Banga said that agriculture, along with infrastructure, health, tourism, and manufacturing, will be crucial to creating jobs — especially as developing nations face the challenge of providing employment to over 1.2 billion young people entering the workforce.

(KNN Bureau)