Punjab tops the country in horticulture
Digital Desk, Chandigarh. The Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann is working rapidly to expand the horticulture sector in the state and increase the income of farmers. Under the instructions of Horticulture Minister Shri Mohinder Bhagat, the Horticulture Department is providing full assistance to the farmers to adopt crop diversity apart from traditional crops.
To boost the horticulture sector, subsidies are being given to farmers under various schemes. Farmers are being provided complete information about ultra-modern techniques to avail maximum benefits of horticulture. The Horticulture Department has taken various initiatives during the year 2025 and has touched new heights.
Giving more information, Horticulture Minister Shri Mohinder Bhagat said that the Horticulture Department, like last year, has been ahead of all the states of India in strengthening the farming infrastructure. He said that the Horticulture Department is working as the nodal agency to implement the Agricultural Infrastructure Fund (AIF) Central Scheme in a systematic manner in the state. He said that till now AIF worth Rs 7100 crore has been sanctioned for more than 30,000 agricultural projects. Loans have been sanctioned under the scheme.
The Horticulture Minister said that the Hon'ble Government is paying special attention towards promoting horticulture in the state and increasing the income of farmers. He said that due to the continuous efforts of the Horticulture Department, the area under horticulture in the state has increased from 4,81,616 hectares to 5,21,000 hectares.
He said that to give a big boost to the horticulture sector and to make the farmers aware of modern technology, an ultra-modern Horticulture Development Center is being established at Ladhowal in Ludhiana. This center will serve as a one-stop knowledge center and motivate farmers across the state to shift from wheat-paddy crop rotation to high-value horticultural crops.
The minister said that 'Apna Pind-Apna Bagh' campaign has been started by the state government. This has given a new direction to the horticulture sector. He said that under this project, fruit trees are being planted on the Panchayat lands of the villages. The income from these gardens will be spent by the Panchayat of the concerned village on the development of the village.
He said that under the National Horticulture Mission, Rs 1575 lakh has been given to farmers as financial assistance for planting new orchards, cultivation of vegetables and flowers, mushrooms, bee-keeping.
He said that under the State Plan Scheme, the Horticulture Department is providing financial assistance of Rs 14,000/- per acre to the farmers to encourage flower cultivation. Under this scheme, farmers have been given Rs 17.40 lakh as subsidy during the current financial year.
He said that under the Post Harvest Handling Scheme, 50 percent subsidy is being given on plastic crates and carton boxes after harvesting of fruits and vegetables. Under this scheme, a subsidy of Rs 23.26 lakh has been issued to farmers during the current financial year.
He said that under 'Save Electricity and Water Scheme', farmers planting drip and orchards are being given an incentive of Rs 10,000 per acre. This year a subsidy of Rs 47.56 lakh has been given. He informed that 50 percent financial assistance is also being given for changing the cover material of poly-house. A subsidy of Rs 140.51 lakh has been given during the current financial year.
Giving more information, the Minister said that to encourage small mushroom units, arrangements have been made to give Rs 80 thousand as subsidy to the farmers. Farmers have been given financial assistance of Rs 54.66 lakh this year. He also informed that a Center of Excellence for Onion is in progress at Khedi, Sangrur under the Indo-Dutch agreement to encourage export-import diversification.
He informed that three estates – Nakh Estate, Amritsar, Litchi Estate, Pathankot and Guava Estate Patiala have been established in the state. Due to which there will be higher production of fruits in the state and increase in the income of farmers.
The Horticulture Minister said that in order to provide special relief to the flood affected farmers growing vegetables, 40 percent of their actual cost is being given as subsidy by the Hon'ble Government.
Apart from this, the Horticulture Minister said that new efforts are being made to promote horticulture in the state, which will increase the income of farmers and enable them to live a happy life.