Being predominantly agrarian, the economy of Uttar Pradesh (UP) is enormously influenced by agriculture. The sector has seen profound changes over the last few years, with advancements evident in both agricultural production and the distribution-consumption chain. Moving forward, these transformations are expected to persist, aligning with UP’s aspiration of becoming a $1 trillion economy by 2029. This ambitious goal brings growth opportunities but also presents substantial challenges, such as climate change, water shortages, land degradation, declining soil nutrients and organic carbon, fragmented landholdings, and restricted access to markets and finances.
By examining both challenges and opportunities, this scoping study offers a comprehensive perspective on the current state of the UP’s agrifood system and envisages outlining priority interventions in four key areas: (i) improving soil organic carbon; (ii) balancing soil nutrients; (iii) improving water use efficiency in irrigation; and (iv) developing mechanisms for carbon credits for farmers.
