Northern Region Agriculture Conference in Lucknow

Lucknow will host the Northern Region Agriculture Conference on 24 April, bringing together Union and state leaders, agricultural experts, farmers, and industry stakeholders to discuss policy priorities, farmer welfare, and modernisation of agriculture in North India. The meeting is expected to focus on practical solutions for productivity, market access, input management, and sustainable farming.

Key Participants and Agenda

The conference will be held at Hotel Centrum, Lucknow. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will deliver the inaugural address, followed by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Union Ministers of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Bhagirath Choudhary and Ramnath Thakur, will also attend. The event is designed as a policy dialogue linking agriculture with new ideas, technologies, and markets. A press conference by the Union Agriculture Minister will follow the inaugural session.

Major Thematic Sessions

The conference will include day-long sessions on:

• Kisan Credit Card.
• Agriculture Infrastructure Fund.
• Horticulture opportunities.
• Pulses Self-Sufficiency Mission.
• National Mission on Edible Oils–Oilseeds.
• Farmer Registry under the Digital Agriculture Mission.

These sessions will involve agriculture and horticulture ministers from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

Focus on Innovation and Best Practices

Progressive farmers, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, startups, Farmer Producer Organisations, agricultural scientists, NABARD representatives, banks, and food processing units will participate. The format aims to address real challenges in farming and allied sectors. Uttar Pradesh will present initiatives such as intercropping with sugarcane and direct seeding of paddy. Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand will showcase best practices to encourage knowledge sharing and agricultural reform across the region.

Policy Issues and Sustainable Farming

The conference will also discuss counterfeit pesticides and fertilisers, black marketing of fertilisers, improved distribution systems, and balanced fertiliser use. An ICAR presentation on integrated farming systems will show diversified and sustainable models for small and marginal farmers. The concluding session will feature addresses by state agriculture ministers, including Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi, followed by the keynote address of Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.