Lucknow: Nearly 40,000–50,000 hectares of productive agricultural land — roughly the size of a mid-sized UP city — is being lost to rapid urbanisation every year, raising concerns over the state’s future foodgrain supply.The agriculture department has flagged the issue in a June 10 govt order, warning that the trend could adversely affect the availability of foodgrains for the state’s large population.The observation forms part of the rationale for the Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Kisan Samriddhi Yojana, a state flagship scheme aimed at converting barren, waterlogged, ravine and otherwise problematic land into cultivable farmland to enhance productivity and boost farmers’ income. Launched in 2022–23, the scheme is set to conclude in the current financial year.According to the order, Uttar Pradesh has a geographical area of 241.7 lakh hectares, of which 24.11 lakh hectares remain fallow, wasteland or unsuitable for cultivation. This includes 15.81 lakh hectares of fallow land, 3.88 lakh hectares of cultivable wasteland and 4.42 lakh hectares that are unfit for farming.Highlighting structural challenges, the order notes that land and water resources have suffered due to unsustainable land-use practices that failed to account for regional variations in land, rainfall and climate. This has led to problems such as land degradation and waterlogging.“As a result of reduced agricultural productivity in these affected areas, the economic condition of farmers remains poor,” the order states. It adds that agricultural output can be improved through planned and accelerated development of such regions.The government emphasised that bringing non-arable land — including ravines and barren tracts — under cultivation is essential to increase production. Simultaneously, it stressed the need to improve low-fertility land affected by various constraints to achieve the desired agricultural output.For 2026–27, the state plans to take up reclamation of 43,850 hectares of land, including improvement of 35,600 hectares of barren or rugged land and treatment of 8,250 hectares of waterlogged areas.Officials at multiple levels have been made accountable for the scheme’s implementation. The programme will be executed by the soil conservation department with public participation and inputs from gram panchayats, kshetra panchayats and public representatives.A 10-member committee headed by the agriculture production commissioner will supervise the programme. It will include principal secretaries from departments such as agriculture, irrigation, horticulture, revenue, minor irrigation, rural development, forest and planning, along with the agriculture director.As per the timeline set by the state government, survey and planning must be completed by May, while on-ground execution is to be finished by December 2026.
