It will also offer hands-on training at demonstration sites.
Punjab Govt to Set Up Advanced Horticulture Technology Centre in Ladhowal to Boost Farmer Income
The Punjab government has made an announcement for setting up an advanced Horticulture Technology Development Centre at Ladhowal, Ludhiana. This move is focused on transforming horticulture practices across the state.
Mohinder Bhagat, Horticulture Minister, made this announcement during a state-level seminar-cum-exhibition which was organised by the Department of Horticulture at Ladhowal. The minister said the new centre will function as a “one-stop knowledge hub” for farmers across Punjab. It will provide live demonstrations of advanced cultivation techniques for fruits, vegetables and flowers. It will also offer hands-on training at demonstration sites.
Minister Bhagat highlighted that this initiative is crucial for the government's aspiration of shifting farmers away from the traditional wheat-paddy cycle and for encouraging them to adopt high-value horticultural crops. He said horticulture alone has the potential to “double farmers’ income in the minimum possible time and bring prosperity.”
Punjab Department of Horticulture Director Shailinder Kaur supported this commitment and reiterated that the department will provide financial assistance under existing schemes such as the Horticulture Mission and RKVY. She highlighted that the centre will include a high-tech certified nursery delivering traceable, quality saplings for ensuring plant purity and reducing manual intervention.
The proposed infrastructure will include polyhouses, a post-harvest training facility, and a custom-hiring centre focused on modernising horticulture operations. The project has been approved under RKVY, with an estimated cost of around INR 7 crore, covering both the infrastructure and the high-tech nursery.
At the exhibition event, a Japanese firm demonstrated GPS-based auto-steering technology in live field conditions and showcased how uniform sowing, spraying and harvesting can reduce time, fuel, seeds, fertilisers and pesticides significantly. Another firm demonstrated instant digital soil testing with on-the-spot Soil Health Card generation, highlighting the centre’s emphasis on precision and digital farming.
With this initiative, the Punjab government focuses on providing farmers with modern tools, knowledge and institutional support towards accelerating crop diversification, improving yields, reducing costs, and paving the way for higher income through horticulture.
Source: Times of India
