Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday, 23 September 2026, launched the e-portal for the Mukhyamantri Krishak Samriddhi Yojana in Lucknow, announcing a reduction in the effective interest rate on farm loans from 11 per cent to 6 per cent and pledging to extend long-term credit to nearly five lakh farmers in the coming years. The Chief Minister declared that farmers' prosperity was inseparable from India's overall economic progress.

Key Features of the Krishak Samriddhi Yojana

Under the scheme, farmers in Uttar Pradesh can now avail loans of up to ₹6 lakh at an effective interest rate of 6 per cent — down from the earlier rate of 11 per cent. The state government will additionally provide an interest subsidy to farmers who repay their loans on time, incentivising credit discipline within the agricultural community.

'We launched this scheme under the Mukhyamantri Krishak Yojana. Loans were earlier provided to farmers at an interest rate of 11 per cent, so we had to reduce the rate. The result is in front of you today, we have brought it down to 6 per cent and have also made long-term loans available. In the coming years, we will extend this loan facility to five lakh farmers. If farmers are happy and prosperous, India will prosper. If the cooperative sector becomes stronger, India will become stronger,' CM Yogi said at the launch event.

Bharat Taxi Yojana: Dignity for Drivers

Alongside the farm credit portal, CM Yogi also formally launched the Bharat Taxi Yojana, designed to provide affordable and organised transportation services to passengers while creating structured livelihood opportunities for drivers. The Chief Minister emphasised that drivers had historically operated without adequate social security or institutional identity.

'Until now, they had no security or social security. They were simply left to fend for themselves... through Bharat Taxi, when a person puts the Bharat Taxi logo on their vehicle, and the driver operating that car works under the Bharat Taxi brand, they will feel proud that this taxi is not merely meant to carry passengers, but is a taxi of India, helping India move forward and transforming India's speed into progress,' Yogi said.

Political Context and Pre-2017 Comparisons

CM Yogi drew a sharp contrast between current conditions and what he described as the state of affairs in Uttar Pradesh before 2017, alleging that curfews, riots, and lawlessness had then been widespread. He claimed that drivers and transport workers had been particularly vulnerable, with vehicles allegedly seized by individuals linked to the then-ruling dispensation. These claims, referencing the period before the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in the state, were made without independent corroboration.

Cooperative Sector as a Pillar of Growth

Both schemes are situated within the state government's broader emphasis on strengthening cooperative institutions. CM Yogi described cooperation as a 'double-edged sword' — capable of generating prosperity under sound leadership or creating disorder under corrupt guidance. He argued that strong cooperative infrastructure, combined with targeted credit access, would form the backbone of rural economic upliftment in the state.

This comes amid the Centre's parallel push to expand cooperative banking and rural credit reach, making UP's initiative broadly aligned with national policy direction. With assembly elections still years away, the scheme's rollout signals the state government's intent to consolidate its rural support base ahead of future electoral cycles.