3 Uttar Pradesh aspiring districts make it to UNDP top 10 on development indicators

LUCKNOW: Out of the eight aspirational districts of Uttar Pradesh under the United Nations Development Programme, three have made it to the top 10 on the basis of improvement in positive indicators of development. Chandauli has ranked second this year, followed by Sonbhadra at the fourth position and Fatehpur, which has ranked seventh. Ranchi, the Jharkhnd capital, has topped the list.
Appreciating the work that has taken place in Chandauli, known as the ‘rice bowl’ of eastern UP, for production of the more economically viable black rice, the report has commended the district administration for encouraging farmers to take up black rice farming.
“Black rice as such is not native to the area and is actually produced in high quantities in Manipur. However, given the increasing demand for the product in the global markets, the district administration promoted the product among a small group of 300 farmers. With the success of the initiative, high quality black rice produced in the district is now ready to be exported to Australia and New Zealand and will soon be exported to other countries as well,” the report has said, adding that black rice commands double the price of good quality normal rice in the local market at Rs 200 per kg.
A government spokesperson said that the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has been motivating more farmers to grow black rice as Chandauli’s soil is highly favourable for paddy farming.
“The UNDP report is based on quantitative analysis of publicly available data and interviews with various stakeholders, including DMs, central prabhari officers, district fellows and other development partners,” said the spokesperson.
Furthermore, the UNDP report has put Chandauli and Sonbhadra among the top 5 districts with maximum change in net resilience since 2018. According to the report, Chandauli and Sonbhadra among others were found to have progressed the most since the beginning of the programme.
The Aspirational Districts Programme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2018 as a part of the government’s effort to raise the living standards of its citizens and ensure inclusive growth for all, he added. In all, 124 districts across India have been put in this category.
“Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has always encouraged innovation in the agricultural sector. He has given the much required impetus to the sector in line with the UP Export Policy 2020-25, which aims at doubling the income of farmers and increasing farm exports while promoting the ‘Make In India’ programme,” he said.