Wikipedia

Department of Horticulture (Punjab, India)

The Department of Horticulture, Government of Punjab (Punjabi: ਬਾਗਬਾਨੀ ਵਿਭਾਗ, ਪੰਜਾਬ ਸਰਕਾਰ) is the apex body for horticultural development in the state of Punjab, India. It works for increasing the land under horticultural crops, providing quality planting material, providing technical know-how to the farmers, reducing post harvest losses, etc.[1]

Department of Horticulture, Government of Punjab
ਬਾਗਬਾਨੀ ਵਿਭਾਗ, ਪੰਜਾਬ ਸਰਕਾਰ
Agency overview
HeadquartersKheti Bhawan, Mohali
Agency executive
  • Director of Horticulture, Punjab
Websitehorticulture.punjab.gov.in

The department is responsible for implementation of schemes such as MIDH, Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, National Bee Keeping and Honey Mission and development of sericulture in the state.[1]

Punjab Tissue Culture Based Seed Potato Act, 2020

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Punjab Government Gazette, CHD/092/2018-2020 notifying the Punjab Tissue Culture Based Seed Potato Act, 2020

The Department of Horticulture, Punjab is the licensing authority for seed potato production and Director of Horticulture, Punjab is the appellate authority as per the Punjab Tissue Culture Based Seed Potato Act, 2020.[2][3] The Punjab Cabinet approved Punjab Tissue Culture Based Seed Potato Act, 2020 on 30 Oct 2020.[4][5] It came into effect on 6 Nov 2020. The purpose of this act is to provide for regulating the quality of potato seeds produced through tissue culture plants in aeroponics or nethouse, etc.[2][3] This act makes certification and traceability of potato seed mandatory to ensure quality control.[6] Its implementation helps to incentivize potato production, leading to greater diversification by bringing more area under potato crop cultivation[5]

Agriculture Infrastructure Fund

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Punjab wins Best Performing State (2023–24) Award at the AIF Excellence Awards held at New Delhi, presented by Minister of Agriculture, India, Shivraj Singh Chouhan (center)

The Government of India launched Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) Scheme in July 2020 with a corpus of Rs. 1,00,000 crores.to provide financial support to agri-entrepreneurs, start-ups, agri-tech players and farmer groups for infrastructure and logistics facilities.[7][8][9] In this fund, Punjab state has been allotted INR 4713 crore.[10] The Department of Horticulture is the state nodal agency for implementation of this scheme in Punjab for which it has set up a Project Monitoring Unit [11][12][13]

The department organizes stakeholder activities across the various districts of Punjab to maximize the implementation and awareness of the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund Scheme.[14][15]

As of October 2023, Punjab state ranks No.1 in India in terms of maximum number of applications sanctioned under the scheme.[16][17][18]

As of June 2024, 9 out of the top 10 districts in India are from Punjab. (in terms of total number of projects sanctioned) [19]

Punjab won the "Best Performing State" Award, 2023–24 at the AIF Excellence Awards held at New Delhi on 3 September 2024. The award was presented by Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India. The Minister of Horticulture Sh. Chetan Singh Jouramajra congratulated the Horticulture Department and the AIF Project Monitoring Unit for their role in elevating the scheme in Punjab.[20][21]

Punjab Horticulture Advancement and Sustainable Entrepreneurship (PHASE)

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Launch of Chilli Cluster under Project Phase by Kultar Singh Sandhwan, Chetan Singh Jauramajra, Fauja Singh Sarari, and other officials at Ferozepur, Punjab.

The Punjab Horticulture Advancement and Sustainable Entrepreneurship (PHASE) program was launched on March 17 in Ferozepur, Punjab by Chetan Singh Jauramajra, Kultar Singh Sandhawan along with other officials.[22][23]

Under PHASE, the department has launched a chilli cluster at Ferozepur with the aim of increasing the efficiency in the value chain, improving the marketing of the product and encouraging crop diversification.[24]

As a measure to improve product quality and to develop horticulture crop clusters in major production zones of Punjab, Punjab Horticulture Advancement and Sustainable Entrepreneurship (PHASE) was announced on the state level in the Punjab State Budget 2024-25 presented by finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema at the Vidhan Sabha [25][26]

 
Finance Minister announcing PHASE Scheme at Punjab Vidhan Sabha

Estates

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The Department of Horticulture, Punjab works to establish various estates across Punjab based on horticultural crops. These estates are equipped with the technological information and machinery to provide facilities to the horticulturists for producing high-quality fruits and cutting the cost of fruit production.[27][28] Training and information dissemination activities are conducted in these estates for the farmers of the region.[29][30][31] Citrus Estate, Hoshiarpur houses Punjab's first biofertilizer production laboratory.[32][33]

List of estates[1]
S.no Name of the Estate Location Villages covered Image
1 Citrus Estate[34] Badal[35] 85
 
2 Citrus Estate[36][37] Bhunga[38] 379
 
3 Citrus Estate[39][40] Hoshiarpur[41] 150
 
4 Citrus Estate[42] Tahliwala Jattan[43] 213
 
5 Citrus Estate[44][45] Abohar[46] 99
 
6 Pear Estate[47][31] Amritsar[48] District Amritsar, Tarn Taran and surroundings
 
7 Guava Estate[49][50] Patiala[51] District Patiala and surroundings
 
8 Litchi Estate[52][53] Pathankot[54] District Pathankot, Hoshiarpur and Gurdaspur
 

Sericulture

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Unveiling of the official logo of the Sericulture Wing and Punjab Silk brand by Chetan Singh Jouramajra (Minister of Horticulture) and K.A.P Sinha (Sp. Secretary Agriculture)

The Sericulture Wing of the Department of Horticulture, Punjab, is responsible for managing silk production in the state, with an emphasis on supporting small-scale and economically disadvantaged farmers. Punjab's silk production is concentrated in the Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Rupnagar and Pathankot districts, and the state primarily produces bivoltine mulberry and eri silk.[55] In 2024, the Punjab government launched the "Punjab Silk" brand with an intention to provide recognition and marketability of local silk and boost farmer incomes.[56]

As part of the initiative, the government reopened the Dalhousie silk seed production center, which had previously been closed. This center is aimed at enhancing the availability of silk seeds to support local production [57] Additionally, there are plans to establish a silk reeling unit in Pathankot, intended to facilitate local processing of silk cocoons and reduce production costs

The sericulture initiative is designed to benefit approximately 1,200 to 1,400 farmers, many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds. By focusing on local silk processing and introducing the "Punjab Silk" brand, the department is aiming to streamline production and improve marketability for locally produced silk. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to support rural communities engaged in sericulture and strengthen the sector's economic contribution to the region's agricultural economy.[58]

Center of Excellence and other infrastructure

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The department has established Centers of Excellence for vegetables, fruits, potato and floriculture at Kartarpur,[59] Hoshiarpur,[60] Jalandhar,[61] Ludhiana[62] respectively. These centers function as sites for front line demonstrations, training as well as sources of quality planting material. Stakeholder activities are organized in these centers for development of horticulture in the state. Other infrastructure include potato seed farms, community canning centers, fruit preservation lab, landscape units, mushroom lab and nurseries.[1] The Center of Excellence for Vegetables won the SKOCH Award (Silver), while the Center of Excellence for Potato was a semi-finalist at the SKOCH Awards for the year 2023. [63]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "::DEPARTMENT OF HORTICULTURE PUNJAB::". horticulture.punjab.gov.in. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
  2. ^ a b "The Punjab Tissue Culture Based Seed Potato Act, 2020" (PDF). prsindia.org. Nov 6, 2020. Retrieved Nov 26, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "The Punjab Tissue Culture Based Seed Potato Act, 2020". Punjab Government Gazette, Extraordinary. Nov 6, 2020.
  4. ^ "Punjab Cabinet nod for tissue culture-based seed potato rules". ANI News. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
  5. ^ a b "Punjab govt allows production of quality seed potato for boosting income". Business Standard. Press Trust of India. Oct 14, 2020. Retrieved Nov 25, 2022.
  6. ^ "Govt will develop Doaba as quality potato seed hub: Rana Gurjit". Hindustan Times. 2021-12-11. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
  7. ^ "PM Modi launches ₹1-lakh crore Agriculture Infrastructure Fund". www.thehindubusinessline.com. 2020-08-09. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
  8. ^ "Cabinet nod for Rs 1 lakh crore agri-infra fund". The Economic Times. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
  9. ^ "Scheme Guidelines for CENTRAL SECTOR SCHEME of Financing facility under 'Agriculture Infrastructure Fund'" (PDF). agriinfra.dac.gov.in. 2022. Retrieved Nov 25, 2022.
  10. ^ "Fund Allocation". agriinfra.dac.gov.in. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
  11. ^ Khanna, Ruchika M (November 9, 2022). "Rs 1,890 cr pledged for post-harvest tech in Punjab". The Tribune.
  12. ^ "Sarari bats for establishing value chains for agriculture & horticulture produce". Punjab News Express. July 22, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  13. ^ Sanjha, A. B. P. (2023-08-05). "ਪੰਜਾਬ ਨੇ ਖੇਤੀਬਾੜੀ ਬੁਨਿਆਦੀ ਢਾਂਚਾ ਫ਼ੰਡ ਸਕੀਮ ਅਧੀਨ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਅਰਜ਼ੀਆਂ ਦੀ ਪ੍ਰਵਾਨਗੀ ਨਾਲ ਦੂਜਾ ਸਥਾਨ". punjabi.abplive.com (in Punjabi). Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  14. ^ "ਐਗਰੀਕਲਚਰ ਇਨਫਰਾਸਟਰੱਕਚਰ ਫੰਡ ਸਕੀਮ ਤਹਿਤ ਜ਼ਿਲ੍ਹਾ ਪੱਧਰੀ ਸੈਮੀਨਾਰ". Punjabi Jagran News (in Punjabi). Retrieved 2023-08-14.
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  16. ^ "ਖੇਤੀਬਾੜੀ ਬੁਨਿਆਦੀ ਢਾਂਚਾ ਫ਼ੰਡ ਸਕੀਮ ਤਹਿਤ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਅਰਜ਼ੀਆਂ ਮਨਜ਼ੂਰ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲਾ ਪਹਿਲਾ ਸੂਬਾ ਬਣਿਆ ਪੰਜਾਬ". Punjabi Jagran News (in Punjabi). Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  17. ^ "ਖੇਤੀਬਾੜੀ ਬੁਨਿਆਦੀ ਢਾਂਚਾ ਫ਼ੰਡ ਸਕੀਮ ਤਹਿਤ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਅਰਜ਼ੀਆਂ ਮਨਜ਼ੂਰ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲਾ ਪਹਿਲਾ ਸੂਬਾ ਬਣਿਆ ਪੰਜਾਬ". Living India News. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  18. ^ Sanjha, A. B. P. (2023-10-19). "Punjab News: ਪੰਜਾਬ ਨੇ ਮਾਰਿਆ ਵੱਡਾ ਮਾਰਕਾ ! ਬਣਿਆ ਪਹਿਲਾ ਸੂਬਾ, AIF ਵਿੱਚ ਮਾਰੀ ਬਾਜ਼ੀ, ਜਾਣੋ ਕੀ ਹੈ ਖ਼ਾਸ". punjabi.abplive.com (in Punjabi). Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  19. ^ "DIPR PUNJAB". ipr.punjab.gov.in. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  20. ^ "Punjab News: ਪੰਜਾਬ ਨੂੰ ਏ.ਆਈ.ਐਫ. ਸਕੀਮ ਤਹਿਤ ਭਾਰਤ 'ਚ ਬਿਹਤਰੀਨ ਪ੍ਰਦਰਸ਼ਨ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲਾ ਰਾਜ ਐਵਾਰਡ ਮਿਲਿਆ". Zee News (in Hindi). Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  21. ^ "DIPR PUNJAB". ipr.punjab.gov.in. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  22. ^ "Formal inauguration of first Chilly Cluster of Punjab at village Mahalam in Ferozepur by Speaker Sandhwan and Chetan Singh Jauramajra". www.babushahi.com. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  23. ^ "Horticulture Advancement Sustainable Entrepreneurship project being launched in Punjab". The Times of India. 2023-03-16. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  24. ^ "First chilli cluster inaugurated in Ferozepur". The Tribune. March 17, 2023.
  25. ^ "Punjab budget 2024-25: Incentives for farmers to grow fruits, mushrooms and more, here's what's new in horticulture". The Indian Express. 2024-03-04. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  26. ^ "Punjab Budget 2024 Focuses on Agriculture, Education and Health, Know All About It". Rozana Spokesman. 2024-03-05. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  27. ^ "Punjab to set up horticulture estates in 4 districts". Hindustan Times. 2022-10-11. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
  28. ^ PTI (2022-10-11). "Punjab to set up four horticulture estates". www.thehindubusinessline.com. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
  29. ^ Service, Tribune News. "ਸਿਟਰਸ ਅਸਟੇਟ ਹੁਸ਼ਿਆਰਪੁਰ ਦੀ ਜਨਰਲ ਬਾਡੀ ਦੀ ਮੀਟਿੰਗ". Tribuneindia News Service (in Punjabi). Retrieved 2022-11-26.
  30. ^ "ਕੀਟਨਾਸ਼ਕਾਂ ਦੀ ਵਰਤੋਂ ਲਈ ਬਾਗਬਾਨੀ ਵਿਭਾਗ ਦੀ ਲਓ ਸਲਾਹ". Rozana Spokesman. 2018-03-28. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
  31. ^ a b "Amritsar: ਨਾਖ ਦੀ ਸਫਲ ਕਾਸ਼ਤ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਲਗਾਈ ਗਈ ਟਰੇਨਿੰਗ". News18 Punjab (in Punjabi). 2022-01-31. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
  32. ^ "State gets its first biofertiliser production lab at Hoshiarpur". The Tribune. Feb 3, 2023.
  33. ^ Live, A. B. P. (2023-02-05). "इस राज्य में नई आधुनिक लैब शुरू, खत्म होगा रासायनिक खादों का प्रयोग... बढ़ जाएगी किसानों की इनकम". www.abplive.com (in Hindi). Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  34. ^ Service, Tribune News. "Area under horticulture increases in Muktsar". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
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  37. ^ Service, Tribune News. "ਬਾਗ਼ਵਾਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸਦਾਬਹਾਰ ਬੂਟੇ ਲਗਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਬਾਗਬਾਨੀ ਵਿਭਾਗ ਨਾਲ ਸੰਪਰਕ ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਸੱਦਾ". Tribuneindia News Service (in Punjabi). Retrieved 2022-11-26.
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  39. ^ "Citrus Estate Hoshiarpur | District Hoshiarpur, Government of Punjab, India | India". Retrieved 2022-11-25.
  40. ^ "ਕਿੰਨੂੰ ਦੀ ਬਰਬਾਦ ਫ਼ਸਲ ਤੋਂ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਕਿਸਾਨ ਬਣਾ ਰਹੇ ਬਾਇਓ ਐਂਜ਼ਾਈਮ". News18 Punjab (in Punjabi). 2021-10-23. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
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  42. ^ "ਪਾਣੀ ਸਟੋਰ ਟਂਕ ਬਣਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਜਾ ਰਹੀ ਸਬਸਿਡੀ". Punjabi Jagran News (in Punjabi). Retrieved 2022-11-26.
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  44. ^ "Huge losses: Area under kinnow in Punjab dips 16% on lower prices for growers". Hindustan Times. 2018-01-27. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
  45. ^ "Explained: How some Punjab farmers are creating bio-enzymes from kinnow". The Indian Express. 2021-10-21. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
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  47. ^ Rana, Yudhvir. "Pear estate to boost fruit trade in Amritsar | Chandigarh News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
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  49. ^ Service, Tribune News. "Guava research centre at Wajidpur". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
  50. ^ "ਪਟਿਆਲਾ ਦੇ ਵਜੀਦਪੁਰ ਵਿਚ ਬਣੇਗੀ ਗੁਆਵਾ ਏਸਟੇਟ, ਅਮਰੂਦਾਂ ਦੀ ਕਵਾਲਿਟੀ ਸੁਧਾਰ ਉੱਤੇ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ ਜਾਂਚ". Rozana Spokesman. 2018-07-02. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
  51. ^ "::DEPARTMENT OF HORTICULTURE PUNJAB::". horticulture.punjab.gov.in. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
  52. ^ "Punjab to set up two estates for litchi, pear". Business Standard. Dec 19, 2014. Retrieved Nov 26, 2022.
  53. ^ "Gurdaspur to come up as litchi cultivation hub". Hindustan Times. 2016-03-12. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
  54. ^ "::DEPARTMENT OF HORTICULTURE PUNJAB::". horticulture.punjab.gov.in. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
  55. ^ "Mann Govt reopens state's only silk seed grainage center in Dalhousie closed for 15 years". www.babushahi.com. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  56. ^ "ਬਾਗ਼ਬਾਨੀ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਜੌੜਾਮਾਜਰਾ ਦਾ ਐਲਾਨ, ਪੰਜਾਬ ਆਪਣੇ ਬ੍ਰਾਂਡ ਅਧੀਨ ਬਾਜ਼ਾਰ 'ਚ ਉਤਾਰੇਗਾ ਰੇਸ਼ਮ ਉਤਪਾਦ; ਲੋਗੋ ਜਾਰੀ - Punjab to launch silk products under its own brand Horticulture Minister Chetan Singh Jouramajra unveils logo". Punjabi Jagran (in Punjabi). 2024-09-21. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  57. ^ "Punjab Govt reopens state's only silk seed grainage centre in Dalhousie". The Tribune. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  58. ^ "Pb to launch silk products under own brand: Min". The Times of India. 2024-09-22. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  59. ^ Service, Tribune News. "ਕਰਤਾਰਪੁਰ 'ਚ ਉਸਾਰਿਆ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ ਵੈਜੀਟੇਬਲ ਐਕਸੀਲੈਂਸ ਸੈਂਟਰ". Tribuneindia News Service (in Punjabi). Retrieved 2022-11-26.
  60. ^ "Centre of excellence for citrus fruits to come up in Hoshiarpur". Hindustan Times. 2014-06-04. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
  61. ^ "Punjab set to have agriculture centres of excellence | Chandigarh News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
  62. ^ Service, Tribune News. "Punjab farms to bloom with flowers". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
  63. ^ "ਸਕੌਚ ਐਵਾਰਡ 2023 : ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਬਾਗ਼ਬਾਨੀ ਵਿਭਾਗ ਨੇ ਸਿਲਵਰ ਐਵਾਰਡ ਅਤੇ 5 ਸੈਮੀਫ਼ਾਈਨਲ ਪੁਜ਼ੀਸ਼ਨਾਂ ਹਾਸਲ ਕੀਤੀਆਂ - Scotch Award 2023 Horticulture Department of Punjab achieved silver award and 5 semi final positions | ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਬਾਗ਼ਬਾਨੀ ਵਿਭਾਗ ਨੇ ਸਿਲਵਰ ਐਵਾਰਡ ਅਤੇ 5 ਸੈਮੀਫ਼ਾਈਨਲ ਪੁਜ਼ੀਸ਼ਨਾਂ ਹਾਸਲ ਕੀਤੀਆਂ". Punjabi Jagran (in Punjabi). 2024-02-13. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
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