Chandigarh: Foreign investment is increasingly flowing into Punjab’s agriculture and food manufacturing sector, as the state government steps up efforts to enhance farmers’ incomes and generate employment for youth. The initiatives are helping reduce crop wastage, raise earnings, and create new job opportunities in rural areas, complementing Punjab’s status as the nation’s food bowl.
Food Parks and Value Addition Transform Farming
Under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the government has launched schemes to ensure farmers get fair prices for their produce while making agriculture more profitable. Large-scale Food Parks have been established in Fazilka, Kapurthala, and Ludhiana, where crops are converted into products like pickles, juices, jams, and packaged vegetables. This value addition ensures better returns for farmers and strengthens the state’s food processing ecosystem.
Punjab ranks among the top three states under the Mega Food Park scheme. Additionally, smaller centres in Hoshiarpur, Amritsar, Abohar, and Talwandi Sabo, connected to the Ludhiana Food Park, offer facilities to keep fruits, vegetables, and milk fresh, reducing spoilage and benefiting both farmers and processing companies.
Supporting Small Entrepreneurs and Youth
The government is actively promoting entrepreneurship, providing financial aid and training to youth, women, and farmer groups. So far, 7,373 small units have been supported with an investment of ₹306 crore. Assistance includes up to 35% for general applicants and 50% for Scheduled Castes, enabling new businesses in villages and creating thousands of jobs.
Focus on cold storage and warehousing has helped farmers preserve crops such as potatoes and onions, allowing them to sell at better prices and reducing exploitation by middlemen. Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian has requested the Centre to set up another Mega Food Park in Bathinda, which would benefit farmers in the Malwa region.
Modern Farming and Skill Development
Training programs are helping farmers adopt organic farming and modern techniques. Start-ups and young entrepreneurs are receiving loans, subsidies, and guidance, contributing to the government’s target of doubling farmers’ income.
CM Bhagwant Mann envisions Punjab as a major hub for food processing alongside agriculture. With more food parks, cold chains, and processing units planned, the government aims to ensure every farmer’s family prospers and villages thrive, ushering in a new era of development and prosperity in the state.