From Farm to Campus: PAU Launches Outlet for Locally Processed Food
Beyond retail, the outlet is envisioned as a demonstration model for farmers and aspiring agro-entrepreneurs.
From Farm to Campus: PAU Launches Outlet for Locally Processed Food
Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has made an announcement for opening a dedicated on-campus outlet in the next two to three months. It is a move to make processed essentials affordable and accessible. The new retail point will offer locally processed staples – flour, pulses, edible oils and jaggery – to students, staff and the general public.
PAU vice-chancellor Satbir Singh Gosal said the initiative focuses on setting up “an agri-mart where entrepreneurs trained at PAU can showcase their products”, while ensuring that hostel residents and other consumers have access to quality food at nominal prices.
PAU’s newly inaugurated Agro Processing Complex is the supplier of goods. The complex is a production unit and a training facility for students and farmers. According to university sources, the complex is equipped with machinery such as a wheat flour mill, a mini rice mill with a grader, a pulse mill and cleaner, an oil extraction/processing unit, and a jaggery-making unit. Modern packaging systems, including vacuum packaging and nitrogen-flush packing, are in place to ensure product hygiene and freshness.
University officials confirmed that in the first batch, PAU has procured about 150 quintals each of wheat and rice, along with substantial quantities of sugarcane and oilseeds for processing. The outlet will operate from a renovated shop located near the campus bank in the PAU market area. The retail model draws inspiration from a successful in-house dairy sales outlet at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), according to PAU authorities.
Beyond retail, the outlet is envisioned as a demonstration model for farmers and aspiring agro-entrepreneurs. It shows how modest agro-processing setups can add value to raw produce, ensure quality, and increase access to consumers.
This initiative marks a meaningful step by PAU to connect academic research and processing facilities with real-world consumption. It pushes for greater self-reliance in food processing, supporting rural livelihoods, promoting agro-entrepreneurship, and ensuring affordable access to locally processed staples.