Punjab boosts horticulture crops through subsidies

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann is adamant about promoting crop diversification. The state government has been focusing on the horticulture sector because it is a more lucrative business for farmers. Currently, the demand for Punjab’s produce has been increasing from global markets, which is a major milestone for a state. Farmers are switching from traditional farming to horticulture crops due to subsidies given by the Mann government.

Mann urged the Horticulture Department to help local farmers in the farming of fruits and vegetables. Several new breeds of fruits, such as guava, litchi, and pear, have been developed under the leadership of the Mann government. However, Punjab’s horticulture has been asked to export 600 quintals of litchi next year. Previously, litchis from Pathankot, Gurdaspur, and Hoshiarpur used to be seen on the shelves of the superstores of England.

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The state government has made several schemes to boost horticulture, such as planting new gardens, cultivating hybrid vegetables, flowers, and mushroom farming, and setting up polyhouses and net houses. Subsidies have been given to farmers for the purchase of small tractors, power tillers, and spray pumps. The Punjab government is providing a 40-50% subsidy on drip irrigation so that farmers can conserve groundwater.

Additionally, the provision of a 30-40 percent subsidy is also announced on the establishment of cold stores, ripening chambers, and potato graders to increase storage and processing capabilities. Such kinds of efforts are proving a boon for the horticulture sector in Punjab, giving farmers a chance to diversify their crops, increase their income, and set their feet in global markets. With the support of state government, horticulture is likely to boom further in coming years, boosting Punjab’s economy as well as the livelihoods of farmers.