Chandigarh, September 2: In a major initiative to promote crop diversification and strengthen Punjab’s horticulture sector, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday approved the establishment of a Horticulture Knowledge Centre at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, with the support of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The initiative is part of a ₹1,300-crore project aimed at expanding horticulture, strengthening the value chain and increasing farmers’ income. Punjab has set a target of bringing 16 lakh hectares under horticulture by 2036.

Chairing a review meeting of the Horticulture Department, CM Mann said the project would focus on expanding the area under horticulture and promoting horticulture crops through stronger value-chain infrastructure. He said the initiative would help increase farmers’ income through crop diversification while encouraging sustainable farming practices, better soil health and water conservation.

Mann said Punjab currently has 41.25 lakh hectares under cultivation, of which 5.27 lakh hectares are under horticulture, producing around 106.10 lakh metric tonnes of output.

He said horticulture covers fruits, vegetables, spices and aromatic plants, flowers and other crops. Major fruits grown in the state include kinnow and guava, while potato and peas are among the major vegetables. Beekeeping and mushroom cultivation are also part of the horticulture sector.

The Chief Minister said the JICA-supported ₹1,300-crore project would facilitate investment in machinery, infrastructure, marketing, seeds and research. The target is to expand the area under horticulture to 16 lakh hectares by 2036, representing an increase of nearly 300 per cent from the current level.

He said the government’s priority was to develop a sustainable horticulture value chain, expand the area under horticulture and encourage farmers to diversify nurseries with high-quality and profitable planting material.

The initiative will also focus on developing post-harvest management infrastructure, improving market access, strengthening extension services and providing technical support to farmers.

Mann said the Horticulture Knowledge Centre at PAU would serve as an important institutional platform for research, technical knowledge, capacity building and adoption of modern horticulture practices.

The centre is expected to strengthen the entire horticulture ecosystem—from quality planting material and cultivation to post-harvest management, marketing and market access—while creating better economic opportunities for farmers and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

Punjab Chief Secretary K.A.P. Sinha, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Dr. Ravi Bhagat, Agriculture Department Secretary Arshdeep Singh Thind, and other senior officials were also present at the meeting.