Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi Inaugurates 'Virat Kisan Mela' in Prayagraj

Prayagraj : A grand five-day Virat Kisan Mela (Farmer's Fair) was officially inaugurated on Friday at the Ganga Pandal in Sector-3 of the Magh Mela area. Presided over by Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi and Jal Shakti Minister Swatantra Dev Singh, the event aims to bring cutting-edge agricultural technology directly to the grassroots level.

• The fair features over 40 specialized stalls showcasing a wide array of agricultural advancements, including:
• Modern Equipment: Drones, solar pumps, and advanced machinery.
• Essential Inputs: High-quality seeds, fertilizers, and agricultural defense chemicals.
• Diversified Sectors: Exhibits from the Dairy Department, Horticulture Department, and various Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs).

Direct Dialogue and Farmer Welfare
During the inauguration, Minister Shahi engaged in a direct Q&A session with approximately 1,500 participating farmers. He addressed local grievances and highlighted key government reforms:

Irrigation Relief: The Minister reiterated that the government has waived electricity bills for all private tube wells, ensuring free irrigation for farmers.

Transparent Subsidies: He emphasized that grants for fertilizers and seeds are now processed through Point of Sale (POS) machines to ensure transparency and direct benefit transfer.

Soil Health: In response to farmer inquiries, Shahi confirmed that free soil testing and Soil Health Cards are available at block, tehsil, and district levels.

In a heartwarming gesture, the Minister honored farmer Rajendra Kumar Patel from Fatehpur for his selfless contribution of providing free irrigation to fellow farmers from his private tube well.