Punjab to explore Global Markets for Horticulture Exports: Mohinder Bhagat

Chandigarh, November 21, 2024: Punjab Horticulture Minister,  Shri Mohinder Bhagat has instructed officials of the department to accelerate efforts aimed at exporting the state's fruits and vegetables to international markets.

Presiding over a meeting with agriculture and horticulture experts, including scientists from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and officials from related organizations, Bhagat emphasized Punjab’s favorable geographical and environmental conditions for horticulture. He highlighted the potential for cultivating high-demand crops suited to European markets and other global destinations.

During the meeting, the cabinet minister instructed the officials to work towards bringing 10 percent of the total Panchayat land in Punjab under horticulture. Meanwhile, care should also be taken to ensure that the land designated for this purpose receives adequate water.

He said that the Horticulture Department and Panchayati Raj Department will monitor this work and explore the possibilities of horticulture on this land through MGNREGA.

The Cabinet Minister said that if we adopt agricultural practices based on the demands of the European market, we can increase farmers' income while keeping the environment clean.

 During the meeting prominent horticulture expert of USDA ARS Subtropical Horticulture research centre SHRS Dr. Sukhwinder Singh shared insights on American sugarcane cultivation, which contains 25% sugar, compared to the 9% sugar content in Punjab's sugarcane. He identified immense potential for cultivating crops like avocados and cocoa in Punjab.

On this occasion, he gave information about the type of sugarcane being grown in America and said that the amount of sugar in this type is 25 while in the sugarcane being grown in Punjab, this amount is 9. He said that there is immense potential for avocado, cocoa farming in Punjab.

Additional Chief secretary Chief secretary Anurag Verma asked if high sucrose varieties of sugarcane can be brought to India The expert from USDA suggested that cane varieties can be imported but Government to Government protocols need to be examined

During the meeting, Additional Chief Secretary, Horticulture, Anurag Verma; Chairman, Punjab State Farmers Commission, Dr. Sukhpal Singh; Chairman, MARKFED, Amandeep Singh Mohi; Chairman, Food Commission, Bal Mukand Sharma; Chairman, Punjab Agro Industries Corporation, Mangal Singh Bassi; Director, Horticulture, Shalinder Kaur; Chief, Fruit Science, PAU, Dr. H.S. Ratanpal; Additional Director, Extension Education, Dr. Tarsem Singh Dhillon; and Head, Floriculture and Vegetable Science Department, Dr. Kulbir Singh, were specially present.