Synopsis
The Uttar Pradesh Budget 2025-26 allocates significant funds for various sectors, including Rs 2,000 crore for stray cattle maintenance, enhancing the dairy sector, and improving food distribution systems, reflecting the government's commitment to rural welfare and agricultural development.Key Takeaways
- Budget includes Rs 2,000 crore for stray cattle maintenance.
- Focus on enhancing the dairy sector and cooperatives.
- Over 12,50,000 cows protected in cow shelters.
- Provision of Rs 200 crore for food distribution infrastructure.
- Significant allocations for sugarcane and horticulture.
Lucknow, Feb 20 (NationPress) During the presentation of the Budget 2025-26 in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly on Thursday, Finance Minister Suresh Khanna detailed the state government's initiatives and budget allocations across various sectors, including food supply, fisheries, livestock, cooperatives, horticulture, food processing, and sugarcane development.
Focusing on the dairy sector, Khanna pointed out that India stands as the world’s largest milk producer, with Uttar Pradesh at the forefront of milk production.
The dairy industry acts as a vital source of supplementary income for marginalized and landless laborers in rural regions. The Budget allocates Rs 203 crore for the Nand Baba Dairy Mission and Rs 107 crore for enhancing and revitalizing dairy cooperatives.
The Finance Minister noted that approximately 12,50,000 cows are safeguarded across 7,713 cow shelters in the state. A total of 1,63,000 cows were entrusted to 1,05,000 cattle keepers under the Mukhyamantri Nirashrit Govansh Sahbhagita Yojana and Poshan Mission. Plans are underway for tagging to identify domesticated, protected, and stray cows.
A budget of Rs 2,000 crore is earmarked for maintaining stray cows, while Rs 140 crore is set aside for establishing large cow conservation centers. Additionally, Rs 123 crore is proposed for enhancing veterinary hospitals and animal service centers,” he remarked.
He added that under the National Food Security Act, 2013, around 3.60 crore Antyodaya and eligible household cardholders in Uttar Pradesh receive nearly 8 lakh metric tonnes of free ration monthly. In the financial year 2023-24, a total of 92.30 lakh metric tonnes of free food grains were distributed.
Following the Central government’s decision to maintain free food grain distribution for five years from January 1, 2024, Uttar Pradesh has ensured a steady supply. Furthermore, under the National Food Security Act, Antyodaya beneficiaries receive 1 kg of sugar per family per card each month, with approximately 12,283 metric tonnes allocated every quarter.
“To bolster food distribution infrastructure, a provision of Rs 200 crore is proposed for constructing Annapurna Bhavans,” he mentioned.
The Finance Minister also announced that under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, Rs 195 crore is allocated for male beneficiaries and Rs 115 crore for female beneficiaries. Rs 190 crore is proposed for building an integrated aqua park market.
Additionally, Suresh Khanna revealed a new scheme with a Rs 10 crore provision for technology adoption, upgrades, and cybersecurity, aimed at modernizing the Uttar Pradesh Cooperative Bank and District Cooperative Banks.
“There is a provision of Rs 525 crore for interest subsidies on crop loans to farmers at low interest rates through PACS. Rs 170 crore is also proposed under the advanced storage scheme for chemical fertilizers,” he noted.
“The government has also allocated Rs 720 crore for the ‘Per Drop More Crop’ micro-irrigation initiative and Rs 650 crore for the National Horticulture Mission Scheme. A provision of Rs 300 crore is set for incentive amounts under the Uttar Pradesh Food Processing Industry Policy, 2022,” he reiterated.
The Finance Minister emphasized that Uttar Pradesh is the largest sugarcane producing state in India, with sugarcane farming and sugar mills significantly contributing to the state’s economy and rural development.
The Budget provides Rs 475 crore for sugarcane payment. Additionally, Rs 90 crore is proposed for establishing a 60 KLPD distillery at Pipraich Sugar Mill, and Rs 50 crore for setting up a new 2,000 TCD sugar mill and logistics hub at the defunct Chhata Sugar Mill.
