Farmers to become export friendly Prayagraj: In a bid to help farmers secure better prices for their produce, UP govt has launched an initiative to train them in direct agricultural exports, reducing dependence on middlemen and making farm products more export-friendly.State govt has amended the Uttar Pradesh Agricultural Export Policy, 2019, to strengthen its export focus and ensure farmers receive greater value from their harvests. While agricultural exports have risen significantly in recent years, officials say a substantial share of farmers’ earnings is still lost to intermediaries.To address this, farmers from export-oriented clusters are being trained in export procedures, documentation and marketing so they can access international markets independently.Dinesh Chandra, assistant agricultural marketing officer for Prayagraj division, said farmers are being trained in export processes and documentation, enabling them to export their produce without relying on middlemen.“Govt is facilitating the training through three reputed national institutions. The programme will be conducted in three phases beginning Nov 23,” he said.Under the first phase, scheduled from Nov 23 to 27, farmers will receive training on agricultural marketing at the National Institute of Agricultural Marketing in Jaipur. The second phase, from Dec 1 to 3, will focus on agricultural entrepreneurship and marketing at the Sahyadri Rural Development Foundation in Nashik. The final phase will be held at the National Institute of Plant Health Management in Hyderabad, where participants will be trained in Integrated Pest Management techniques to prepare produce for export.A total of 37 clusters have been selected for the statewide initiative, including three from Prayagraj division: an amla cluster in Pratapgarh and green chilli and banana clusters in Fatehpur.Among the participants is Fatehpur-based green chilli farmer Bhuvan Bhaskar, who claimed that middlemen currently take away nearly 45% of profits from exports. He said learning the export process could significantly raise his earnings.Officials say the impact of the state’s export-focused policy is already evident. More than 5,000 farmers and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) in Prayagraj division are now indirectly connected to global agricultural markets.Agricultural exports from Uttar Pradesh have recorded steady growth over the past few years. In 2022-23, the state exported 154,243.5 metric tonnes of agricultural and horticultural produce worth ₹18,991.43 crore. In 2023-24, exports rose to 1.43 million metric tonnes, generating ₹22,302.7 crore in turnover. The figures increased further to 1.44 million metric tonnes and ₹24,028 crore in 2024-25.In 2025-26, agricultural exports from the state reached 1.74 million metric tonnes, with turnover touching ₹30,878.4 crore. In Prayagraj division alone, 2,835.22 metric tonnes of agricultural produce worth ₹12.29 crore was exported till October of the current fiscal year, officials said.