Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said that large-scale adoption of oilseed- and pulse-based intercropping with sugarcane is the most effective way to give a fresh boost to Uttar Pradesh’s agricultural sector, reported The Stateman.
Chairing a high-level meeting on the subject, the Chief Minister said the model has the potential not only to double but to “multiply manifold” the income of sugarcane farmers. He explained that intercropping high-value crops such as mustard, lentil, urad and moong with sugarcane would provide additional output, reduce input costs and ensure stable year-round income, thereby strengthening farmers’ economic condition.
Highlighting the limitations of land availability, Adityanath said horizontal expansion of cultivable land in the state was no longer possible. “If Uttar Pradesh is to move towards a trillion-dollar economy, increasing productivity per unit area is the only viable option,” he said.
Describing sugarcane-based intercropping as the future of agriculture in the state, the Chief Minister said the model simultaneously offers higher production, increased income and protection against risk. He directed officials to implement the plan in mission mode from 2026–27 to 2030–31.
At present, sugarcane is cultivated over 29.50 lakh hectares in Uttar Pradesh, including 14.64 lakh hectares of newly sown area and 14.86 lakh hectares under ratoon crops. Adityanath said introducing oilseed and pulse intercrops across such a large area would significantly boost production and strengthen self-reliance in oilseeds and pulses at both state and national levels.
He instructed that intercrop selection should be based on scientific and practical considerations, with Krishi Vigyan Kendras and agricultural universities playing a key role. Citing IISER recommendations, he said priority should be given to mustard and lentil during the Rabi season, and urad and moong during the Kharif season.
“Additional crops, additional profit and additional security—without affecting sugarcane yield—are the biggest strengths of this model,” the Chief Minister said, directing officials to prepare a year-wise roadmap for implementation.
He noted that the additional production would directly enhance farmers’ incomes and make a substantial contribution to the state’s gross value added (GVA). He also stressed the need to clearly define assistance and subsidy frameworks to ensure the scheme’s successful rollout.
Adityanath further said large-scale adoption of intercropping would improve cash flow for farmers and reduce the risks associated with single-crop dependency, making agriculture more stable and sustainable. He emphasized that the initiative should go beyond benefiting only sugarcane farmers and instead serve as a broader transformation of the state’s agricultural landscape.
