Lok Sabha Question No. 5286 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-24
Subject: Agricultural Infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Ram Shiromani Verma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5286 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 24 TH  MARCH, 2026

## AGRICULTURAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN UTTAR PRADESH

†5286.  SHRI RAM SHIROMANI VERMA:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

(a) whether a large number of farmers in the Aspirational and border districts of Uttar Pradesh particularly Shravasti and Balrampur are marginal and small farmers and face crop damage due to floods and waterlogging in the Rapti river every year;

(b) if so, the details of damage caused to crops in the said districts during the last three years;

(c)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  special  steps  to  facilitate  timely procurement of crops at the Minimum Support Price from farmers and to increase the number of procurement centres in the said areas;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e)  whether  the  Government  is  implementing  any  special  scheme  to  strengthen agricultural infrastructure in these districts by setting up cold storage, warehouses, processing units and for development of rural agricultural markets; and

(f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) & (b): As informed by State Government of Uttar Pradesh, the primary causes of flooding particularly in Shravasti and Balrampur districts are the Rapti River and the hill streams originating from Nepal. The meandering nature of the Rapti River, along with its tendency for rapid fluctuations in discharge over short periods during peak discharge season is a major cause of flooding and bank erosion.

The details of crop loss in the district Balrampur during the last three years are as under:

| Year    |   Affected Farmers |   Total crop loss (in hectare) |   Relief distribution (in Rs.) |
|---------|--------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| 2022-23 |              84020 |                       45067    |                    2.61668e+08 |
| 2023-24 |                  0 |                           0    |                    0           |
| 2024-25 |               1406 |                         306.47 |                    6.46822e+06 |

The details of crop loss in the district Shravasti during the last three years are as under:

| Year    |   Affected Farmers |   Total crop loss (in hectare) |   Relief distribution (in Rs.) |
|---------|--------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| 2022-23 |             444423 |                       12402.7  |                      236802441 |
| 2023-24 |               1225 |                        1061.77 |                        9025024 |
| 2024-25 |                290 |                         231.08 |                        1017570 |

(c) & (d): As informed by the State Government of Uttar Pradesh, the procurement of wheat and paddy from farmers under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) scheme is conducted  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  outlined  in  the  procurement  policy issued  by  the  Government.  To  ensure  that  farmers  receive  a  fair  price  for  their produce,  the  State  Government  facilitates  procurement  by  establishing  purchase centers  through  various  designated  agencies.  These  agencies  include  the  Food Department, the State Agricultural Produce Market Committee (Mandi Parishad), the Uttar Pradesh Cooperative Federation (PCF), the Uttar Pradesh Cooperative Union (UPPCU),  the  Uttar  Pradesh  Consumer  Cooperative  Federation  (UPSS),  the National  Agricultural  Cooperative  Marketing  Federation  of  India  (NAFED),  the National  Cooperative  Consumers'  Federation  of  India  (NCCF),  and  the  Food Corporation of India (FCI). Purchase centers are strategically established at locations characterized  by  a  robust  inflow  of  produce,  strong  procurement  potential,  and adequate storage capacity, thereby ensuring that farmers do not have to travel long distances to sell their harvest. In the event that procurement at a specific center within a  district  is  stalled  due  to  a  lack  of  produce  inflow,  the  District  Magistrate  is empowered to relocate that purchase center to a location exhibiting a higher volume of produce arrivals. Furthermore, to strengthen the marketing infrastructure available to farmers, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) are also encouraged to establish and operate purchase centers.

The  entire  process  encompassing  both  farmer  registration  and  the  actual procurement of produce is managed and executed through a dedicated online portal. To ensure the timely disbursement of sale proceeds to farmers, a system has been implemented  wherein  procurement  agencies  transfer  the  payment  for  purchased wheat  and  paddy  directly  into  the  farmers'  Aadhaar-linked  bank  accounts.  This payment is processed via the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) through the 'e-Upurjan'  portal,  with  a  target timeframe of 48  hours  wherever feasible;  this mechanism  serves  to  ensure  both  transparency  and  punctuality  in  the  payment process.

The year-wise details of the wheat and paddy purchase centers established in  the  Shravasti  and  Balrampur  districts  over  the  past  three  years  are  presented below:

|         | Shravasti                | Shravasti                | Balrampur                | Balrampur                |
|---------|--------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|
| Year    | Wheat Procurement Center | Paddy Procurement Center | Wheat Procurement Center | Paddy Procurement Center |
| 2023-24 | 47                       | 45                       | 52                       | 42                       |
| 2024-25 | 52                       | 35                       | 53                       | 28                       |
| 2025-26 | 47                       | 38                       | 57                       | 40                       |

(e) & (f): Under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), a financing facility of Rs.1 lakh crore is provided through medium to long-term debt financing for investment in viable projects  relating  to  post-harvest  management  infrastructure  and  viable  farming assets such as warehouses, cold storages, cold chains, grading and sorting units, primary processing centres, pack houses and other supply chain infrastructure. The scheme provides interest subvention of 3% per annum on loans up to 2 crore and credit  guarantee coverage for loans up to 22 crore under Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) and NABSanrakshan Trust Fund, thereby facilitating easy access to institutional credit for farmers, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), cooperatives, agri-entrepreneurs and start-ups.

As on 11 th  March, 2026, the details of project type in the districts of Shravasti and Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh State sanctioned under AIF is as under:

| SHRAVASTI                 | SHRAVASTI                  | SHRAVASTI                    |
|---------------------------|----------------------------|------------------------------|
| Project Type              | No. of Sanctioned Projects | Sanctioned Amount (in crore) |
| Primary processing Center | 16                         | 11.94                        |
| Warehouse                 | 13                         | 14.80                        |
| Grand Total               | 29                         | 26.73                        |
| BALRAMPUR                 | BALRAMPUR                  | BALRAMPUR                    |
| Primary processing Center | 21                         | 15.92                        |
| Warehouse                 | 14                         | 10.18                        |
| Grand Total               | 35                         | 26.10                        |

Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) is implemented to strengthen  post-harvest  infrastructure  activities,  under  which  capital  assistance  is provided for various horticulture activities, including construction/expansion/ modernization of cold storage facilities for perishable horticultural produce, secondary  processing  units  for  value  addition  across  the  country  including  Uttar Pradesh. The financial assistance is available in the form of credit linked back ended subsidy at the rate of 35% of the eligible project cost in general areas and 50% of the eligible  project  cost  in  case  of  NE  &  Himalayan  States,  Scheduled  areas,  vibrant villages, Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands.

Further,  under  MIDH,  assistance  is  also  provided  for  Market  infrastructure such  as  Rural  Markets,  Retail  Markets/Outlets  etc.  for  Government  assistance  is available within the range from 35% to 50% of the eligible project cost for general areas  and  in  case  of  NE  &  Himalayan  States,  Scheduled  areas,  vibrant  villages, Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands respectively.

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