UP cow urine project mocked by Akhilesh; government defends rural push

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday criticised the Uttar Pradesh government’s pilot project for procuring cow urine from farmers, calling it a step towards the state’s “one trillion economy” goal.

In a post on X, Mr. Yadav wrote: “Another step of U.P. government towards one trillion economy. Well, at least the sellers will buy something.” The former chief minister was referring to the government’s announcement of a pilot project in Bulandshahr’s Syana tehsil.

According to an official release, the project has been launched through a farmer producer organisation (FPO). “In line with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s vision of linking cow protection with the rural economy, women’s empowerment and organic farming, an initiative has been launched. A pilot project for the procurement of cow urine has been started through a farmer producer organisation in Bulandshahr,” the release stated.

Cow urine is being purchased from farmers and livestock owners at ₹10 per litre. The release added, “Following the success of the pilot project, preparations are under way to extend this model to other parts of the State. This will provide families rearing cattle with an additional source of income.”

The government said the initiative has brought 15 surrounding villages into the project. Local collection centres have been set up, and around 500 litres of cow urine is being collected every day. There are also plans to increase the procurement price to ₹20 per litre in the future. Tanks with a capacity of 200 litres have been installed in the villages for collection.

Cow urine is traditionally used in organic farming, as a component in natural pesticides and fertilizers, and also in some indigenous medicines. The government’s project aims to formalise its collection and provide an additional revenue stream for cattle-rearing families.

Uttar Pradesh, with a largely agrarian economy, has seen several schemes aimed at boosting farmer incomes. The state government has set a target of reaching a trillion-dollar economy, a goal that opposition parties have repeatedly questioned as unrealistic. The cow urine project is one of the latest initiatives presented as part of that vision.

The Samajwadi Party’s comment comes amid an ongoing political debate over the effectiveness of such schemes in generating economic growth. While the state government presents the project as a means to link cow protection with rural prosperity, the opposition argues that it does not address the core economic challenges facing farmers.

This is not the first time the state government’s cow-related projects have sparked political reactions. Earlier initiatives include promoting cow-based products and supporting gaushalas (cow shelters). The current project is part of a broader vision articulated by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to integrate cow protection with economic development.

Neither the state government nor the Samajwadi Party issued further statements on the matter at the time of writing. The pilot project’s success, if any, will likely be assessed by the government before deciding on a state-wide rollout.