The North News
Chandigarh, December 24
Punjab has recorded a steady expansion in horticulture, with the area under such crops rising from 4.81 lakh hectares to about 5.21 lakh hectares, as the state intensifies efforts to diversify agriculture and boost farm incomes. Horticulture Minister Mohinder Bhagat said on Wednesday that sustained policy support, financial incentives and the use of modern technology have encouraged farmers to move beyond traditional wheat and paddy cultivation. He said the department’s focus during 2025 had helped Punjab emerge as a national frontrunner in strengthening horticulture infrastructure.
Bhagat said that the Punjab Horticulture Department once again ranked first among Indian states in implementing the centrally sponsored Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) scheme. Acting as the nodal agency, the department has so far facilitated loans worth ₹7,100 crore for more than 30,000 agriculture-related projects across the state. The minister said the government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann views horticulture as a key driver of income growth for farmers. As part of this push, a state-of-the-art Horticulture Development Centre is being set up at Ladhowal in Ludhiana. The centre is expected to serve as a one-stop knowledge hub, exposing farmers to modern practices and encouraging a shift towards high-value crops.
At the village level, the government has launched the ‘Apna Pind–Apna Bagh’ initiative, under which fruit-bearing plants are being cultivated on panchayat land. Officials say the income generated from these orchards will be used for local development, strengthening rural economies.
Financial support has also been stepped up. Under the National Horticulture Mission, assistance of ₹1,575 lakh has been released for new orchards, vegetable and flower cultivation, mushroom farming and beekeeping. To promote floriculture, the department is providing a subsidy of ₹14,000 per acre under a state plan scheme, with ₹17.4 lakh disbursed so far this financial year.
