National: February 06, 2024

Yara India and the Government of Uttar Pradesh sign MoU to revolutionise potato farming in the region

National, February 06, 2024: Yara India, a subsidiary of Yara International and the world's leading crop nutrition company, has signed an MoU with the Department of Horticulture and Food Processing,Government of Uttar Pradesh. The MoU was signed by Mr. Vinaya Kumar Sharma, Head Commercial, Yara India, at the 2nd International Conference and Buyer-Seller Meet in Agra on February 04, 2024. The
strategic partnership aims to support potato farmers in enhancing crop productivity and quality to gain
acceptance for produce in the market. The primary objective is to introduce them to emerging digital
technologies and building their capacity for higher efficiency and sustainability in farming practices.
Following the MoU signing, Dr. Atul Kumar Singh, Director- Horticulture and Food Processing
Department, Uttar Pradesh, visited Yara’s Knowledge Grows Centre (YKGC) in Agra, which serves as a
centre of excellence, fostering development and enhancing the best farming practices. During the visit,
officials from the Department of Horticulture and Food Processing, Government of Uttar Pradesh, and the leadership team of Yara India interacted with potato farmers and toured four demo potato plots,which showcased the efforts Yara has made to enhance crop productivity and contribute to farmers' livelihood.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Sanjiv Kanwar, Managing Director, Yara South Asia, said, “We are excited to partner with the Department of Horticulture and Food Processing, Government of Uttar Pradesh, on this transformative journey towards enhancing the productivity and profitability of potato farmers in the region. Our collaboration is focused on building an ecosystem that supports and uplifts the livelihoods of our farmers, while also revolutionizing food systems for a healthier and more resilient future. We are committed to working closely with other value chain players, from seed to final output companies, along with our team of Yara Agronomists, to introduce digital innovations such as our newly revamped FarmCare app and improve food quality.” Dr. Atul Kumar Singh, Director- Horticulture and Food Processing Department, Uttar Pradesh, said, “Yara India's partnership with the Department of Horticulture and Food Processing, Government of Uttar Pradesh, is a significant step towards empowering potato farmers in the region. This partnership will
introduce farmers to cutting-edge digital technologies and innovative solutions that will significantly enhance crop productivity and quality, thereby contributing to the overall prosperity of the farmers and their families. The Yara Knowledge Grow Center in Agra is an excellent platform for developing and enhancing the best farming practices, and we are confident that our farmers will benefit greatly from the
knowledge and expertise shared by Yara's team of agronomists."

Yara Knowledge Grow Center (YKGC) in Agra is a center of excellence for developing and enhancing the best farming practices. The YKGC serves as a platform for conducting physical meetings and actively engages with the local community by conducting regular training programs for farmers. The research farm present within the YKGC hosts Yara’s scientists who strive to create sustainable farming models
shared with farmers. This involves research on innovative solutions for current crops as well as studying the viability of new crops and farming techniques in the region. Through this research, Yara India aims to develop an ecosystem that supports and uplifts the livelihoods of farmers in the region.
About Yara India 
Yara has been operating in India for more than two decades, since it began working with Indian growers to relook at the nutrition of their crops, in order to improve on yields and quality.  In 2011, Yara setup its own operations in the state of Maharashtra.  On 12 January 2018, Yara successfully acquired Tata Chemicals’ urea business relating to the company’s Babrala plant in Uttar Pradesh.  It was India’s first foreign direct investment in the highly regulated urea sector.  With this acquisition, Yara gained a significant position in northern India, with access to a strong network of 650-700 dealers and enhanced crop nutrition solutions to farmers in North India. Today, Yara India has a pan-India presence.  It is working closely with Indian farmers to fulfil the company’s mission to responsibly feed the world and protect the planet.