Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today flagged off vehicles carrying wheat seed, to assist flood-affected farmers in Punjab.

Flagging off the vehicles from his official residence, the CM said the true joy of the festival lies in uniting with those in need and standing up for them. With this spirit, the Uttar Pradesh government stands with the farmers of Punjab in this difficult time.

He said that Punjab's farmers will not face this disaster alone. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the double-engine government (Government of India and Government of Uttar Pradesh) stands with every disaster affected citizen, whether it be in the form of relief material, financial assistance, or rehabilitation efforts. He said that together we will empower farmers, make them self-reliant, and prosperous.

In his address, the Chief Minister stated that Punjab is a key state in our country, having played a historic role in achieving the goal of agricultural self-reliance in independent India. However, excessive rainfall this year has severely impacted public life. Even the seed reserves stored by farmers were destroyed by the floods, which is likely to have a serious impact on future crops.

In this spirit, the Agriculture Department and the Uttar Pradesh Seeds and Development Corporation are sending 2,500 bags, or 1,000 quintals, of wheat seed to Punjab today.

The Chief Minister recalled that when floods struck Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, the Uttar Pradesh government sent relief materials to these states and also provided funds from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. He said that the Uttar Pradesh government has always stood with those in need during any natural disaster and will continue to do so.

The Chief Minister informed that the 1,000 quintals of wheat seed being sent to Punjab farmers are of the "BB-327" variety, also known as Karan Shivani. This disease resistant, bio-fortified, and nutritious variety matures in just 155 days and is capable of yielding up to 80 quintals per hectare. He said that this seed will not only be beneficial to the farmers of Punjab but also symbolize the progress and efficiency of the Uttar Pradesh Seeds and Development Corporation.

He noted that when the current government took office, the corporation was in a very poor state. However, today, the corporation operates on a dividend of approximately ₹148 crore and has earned a net profit of ₹37 crore in just one year. The Chief Minister stated that this is proof that if institutions work with dedication and honesty, they cannot only generate profits but also significantly contribute to making farmers self-reliant.

The Chief Minister stated that our farmers and our institutions are jointly strengthening the foundation of a self-reliant India. In this regard, a "Seed Park" will soon be established in Lucknow in memory of former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh. All formalities have been completed.

Additionally, work is progressing rapidly to establish five more seed parks within the state. He said that if farmers receive timely, improved, quality seeds, their costs decrease and production increases. However, if the seeds are late or of poor quality, production can decline by 30 to 50 percent. Therefore, the government's priority is to ensure timely availability of quality seeds to farmers.

The Chief Minister said that thanks to the efforts of the Uttar Pradesh Seeds and Development Corporation, the state is now moving towards self-sufficiency in food grain production. He explained that while Uttar Pradesh's share of the country's total cultivable land is only 11 percent, it contributes 21 percent to the country's total food grain production. This is a testament to the hard work of Uttar Pradesh's farmers and the government's policy acumen, he added.