LUCKNOW, March 25 -- Citing improved growth indicators and a shift in "public perception", finance and parliamentary affairs minister Suresh Kumar Khanna on Tuesday presented a report card of the state's performance over nine years in office. Addressing a press conference, the minister claimed the state's development pace has more than doubled - from 8% in 2017 to 18% now - while cultivable agricultural land has expanded significantly. Khanna highlighted farm sector gains, including loan waivers of up to Rs.1 lakh for over 86 lakh small and marginal farmers. He said schemes like Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi and crop insurance have supported expansion in organic farming, now spread across over 1.76 lakh hectares. Sugarcane cultivation has also seen a jump, alongside higher MSP and ethanol production, positioning the state as a key player in biofuel output, he added. Khanna also inaugurated an exhibition and interacted with beneficiaries of schemes. HTC...