Foreign investment is rapidly flowing into Punjab’s agriculture and food manufacturing sector. The Punjab government has taken several major steps to increase farmers’ income and provide employment to the youth. These initiatives are raising farmers’ earnings, reducing crop wastage, and generating new employment opportunities in villages. Punjab is already the food bowl of the nation, and now its food processing industry is also rapidly growing.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s government has launched several schemes to ensure farmers get the right price for their produce and to make agriculture a profitable business. The government has established large-scale Food Parks in places like Fazilka, Kapurthala, and Ludhiana. In these parks, farmers’ produce is transformed into pickles, juices, jams, packaged vegetables, and other products. This ensures that farmers receive a good price for their crops.
Punjab is among the top three states in the country under the Mega Food Park scheme. Four smaller centres have also been set up in Hoshiarpur, Amritsar, Abohar, and Talwandi Sabo, linked to the Ludhiana Food Park. These locations provide facilities for keeping fruits, vegetables, and milk fresh. Farmers bring their produce here, and companies purchase it to manufacture various products.
The Punjab government is assisting small entrepreneurs to open 7,373 units, investing ₹306 crore for this purpose. The government is providing financial aid and training to youth, women, and farmer groups to start their own small businesses. The government offers up to 35% assistance for starting new businesses, and 50% assistance for people belonging to the Scheduled Castes. This is creating new job opportunities in the villages.
The government has also focused on building cold storage and warehouses. Now, farmers’ potatoes, onions, and other vegetables do not spoil. Earlier, farmers had to sell their crops quickly, but now they can store their produce in cold storage and sell it at a better price. This has reduced exploitation by middlemen and is directly benefiting the farmers.
Punjab’s Agriculture Minister, Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, has requested the central government to open another Mega Food Park in Bathinda. This would significantly benefit the farmers of the Malwa region. The government aims to have facilities for farmers in every district. The Punjab government is offering special concessions to foreign companies to invest in the state. This is leading to the opening of new factories and the creation of thousands of jobs.
The government has also initiated training programs to teach farmers new technology. Farmers are now adopting organic farming and modern agricultural methods. The Punjab government is also providing all-round support to start-ups and young entrepreneurs. Youth with new ideas are receiving loans and subsidies. The Punjab government has set a target to double farmers’ income.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has stated that Punjab will be transformed into a major hub for food processing alongside agriculture. The government believes that the more products are made from farmers’ produce, the higher their income will be. In the coming years, more new food parks, cold chains, and processing units will be opened in Punjab. The government’s effort is to ensure every farmer’s family is prosperous and that villages develop. These initiatives by the Punjab government are ushering in a new era of happiness and prosperity in the state.
