Punjab govt drives horticulture revolution

Chandigarh: The Punjab Horticulture Department is ready to help farmers to transform the state into a major agriculture hub. The overall, area under horticulture has increased by 42%, rising from 278,583 hectares (6.88 lakh acres) in 2011-12 to 482,000 hectares (11.91 lakh acres) in 2023-24 over the past decade. The state achieved this milestone despite the horticulture department functioning with a meager 25% of staff.

Punjab has now become a horticulture hub instead of its traditional paddy-wheat crops. Although it occupies just 6.16% of the state’s total cropped area (7.826 million hectares), its economic impact is significant. In 2023-24, the value of horticultural produce soared to Rs 26,580.38 crore, four times more than Rs 6,267.40 crore in 2011-12. This accounts for 17.03% of Punjab’s agricultural GDP, which stands at Rs 1, 56,068.46 crore.

Also Read: Sigh of relief: Delhi’s air quality reaches moderate

Currently Punjab has made its place in the production of kinnows, sweet oranges, mangoes, guavas, grapes, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, and more. These crops need less water compared to wheat, creating an ease for farmers. Fruits are known for better nutrition; therefore, people prefer fruits and vegetables over grains.

Dr. Daljit Singh, Deputy Director of the Horticulture Department in Jalandhar, emphasized Punjab’s growing potential in horticulture. He highlighted how initiatives like the Indo-Israel Centre of Excellence for Vegetables in Kartarpur have encouraged farmers to expand pear orchards.

In Punjab, the area under fruit and vegetable cultivation grew from 76,592 hectares to 103,287 hectares and 203,734 hectares to 356,476 hectares between 2013-14 and 2023-24. Besides this, it is expected that 20,000 hectares are now used for flowers, seeds, mushrooms, medicinal plants, and spices like turmeric and celery.

With the increase in horticulture production, the state farmers’ earnings have been growing rapidly, and they are spending more lucrative lives compared to earlier times.