Punjab enhances horticulture: Green initiatives for farmers

Punjab Horticulture Minister Mohinder Bhagat on Tuesday directed senior officers to study the horticulture sector in neighbouring states to adopt best practices for boosting horticulture in Punjab. He was presiding over a meeting in Chandigarh to review various welfare schemes being implemented by the Horticulture Department for the benefit of farmers.

During the meeting, Horticulture Secretary Mohammad Tayyab and Director Shailender Kaur apprised the Minister of the subsidies and incentives being provided to farmers under different schemes. Bhagat emphasized the need for effective execution of these initiatives to maximize their impact.

The Minister also discussed the plantation of fruit trees on Panchayat lands, highlighting the importance of promoting agroforestry to enhance green cover and provide additional income to farmers. He stressed that such efforts would not only benefit farmers economically but also contribute to environmental sustainability. In the meeting, Additional Director Rural Development Sandeep Singh provided details about the availability and utilization of Panchayati lands for these initiatives.Deputy Director Harmail Singh was also present at the meeting.

Recognizing the dedication of officials, Bhagat honored several employees of the department for their excellent work in implementing horticulture schemes. Those awarded include HDO Balwinderjit Kaur, ACFA Gurpreet Kaur, Senior Assistants Sumeet Kapoor and Rajinder Kumar, Steno Navjit Kumar, Clerks Harpreet Singh Rupinderjit Singh and other staff Mahadev Gupta and Tula Ram.

The Minister reiterated the government's commitment to strengthening Punjab’s horticulture sector through progressive policies and innovative strategies.