Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday, 25 June 2026, formally handed over approval letters to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow, sanctioning 6,18,482 pucca houses for rural poor under the new phase of Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) and extending minimum support price (MSP) procurement for key rabi crops until 8 July 2026. The twin approvals mark a significant Centre-state push on rural welfare and farm income protection in India's most populous state.

PMAY-G Housing Allocation for Uttar Pradesh

The 6,18,482 houses allocated to Uttar Pradesh form part of the new PMAY-G phase covering 2024–25 to 2028–29, under which the Centre has committed to constructing an additional two crore pucca houses nationwide. Minister Chouhan confirmed that a survey of rural households in the state has been completed and eligible families currently living in kutcha houses have been identified.

'Out of these, 6,18,482 houses have been allocated to Uttar Pradesh, opening the way for providing permanent housing to lakhs of poor rural families in a phased manner,' Chouhan said. He assured full financial and technical support from the Centre, stressing timely construction, quality control, and inclusion of every eligible beneficiary under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Housing for All' mission.

MSP Procurement Extended to Protect Farmers

In a separate but simultaneous relief for the farm sector, Chouhan handed over a formal approval letter extending MSP procurement for wheat, gram, and masoor until 8 July 2026 — granted in direct response to a request from the Uttar Pradesh government. The extension is designed to ensure that no farmer is forced into distress sales due to practical hurdles such as weather disruptions, delayed mandi arrivals, weighing bottlenecks, or congestion at procurement centres.

'The decision is expected to benefit lakhs of wheat, gram and masoor growers in Uttar Pradesh and help prevent distress sales at below-MSP prices,' Chouhan said. He noted that Uttar Pradesh alone contributes approximately 38 per cent of India's total wheat production, underscoring the national significance of the state's agricultural output.

El Nino Warning and Climate Contingency Planning

Chouhan flagged that signs of El Nino are visible this year, with rainfall already below normal and a further shortfall likely. Climate change, rising temperatures, and declining groundwater levels were identified as serious structural challenges for farming in the state. In response, the meeting between the Union Minister, Chief Minister Adityanath, and state Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi agreed to prepare district-wise contingency plans promoting short-duration and low-water-requirement crops.

Alternative crop lists will be drawn up based on local water availability, soil conditions, and existing cropping patterns. A scientific roadmap for Uttar Pradesh — integrating crop patterns, irrigation, water conservation, seeds, technology, and marketing strategies — is being jointly finalised by the Centre and the state government.

Advisory and Support Mechanism

A coordinated advisory framework is being readied to deliver timely guidance, seeds, and technical support through Krishi Vigyan Kendras, the state agriculture department, and local administration. 'The Union government's priority is that fields should not remain vacant, farmers' income should be protected, and the country's food security should not be affected,' Chouhan said. The draft scientific roadmap was discussed in detail during the Lucknow meeting and will be formally adopted once jointly cleared by both governments.

With UP's farm sector facing a potentially difficult kharif season and lakhs of rural families awaiting permanent housing, the pace of implementation on both fronts will be closely watched in the months ahead.