Govt to set up advanced horticulture research centre at Ladhowal

In a major boost to the horticulture sector, Horticulture Minister Mohinder Bhagat on Wednesday announced that the Punjab Government was establishing a state-of-the-art Horticulture Technology Research Centre at Ladhowal.

Inaugurating the state-level seminar-cum-exhibition organised by the Department of Horticulture in Ladhowal, the minister stated that this upcoming Horticulture Technology Research Centre would serve as a one-stop knowledge hub for farmers across the state. There will be demonstrations of the latest hi-tech cultivation practices for every type of fruit, vegetable and flower, and hands-on training will be offered. The centre will motivate the farmers to adopt horticulture on a large scale.

Bhagat, while addressing hundreds of progressive farmers, emphatically stated that state government led by CM Bhagwant Singh Mann was fully committed to shifting farmers from the wheat-paddy cycle to high-value horticultural crops. He added that the horticulture alone had the potential to double farmers’ income in the shortest possible time and bring prosperity. He emphasised that this centre would become the heartbeat of that transformation.

The minister urged farmers to diversify into horticulture without any hesitation and assured them of complete departmental support at every step. He personally listened to individual problems raised by farmers on the spot and directed officers for immediate redressal. He also inspected all the stalls and upcoming infrastructure units at the Ladhowal centre.

Director Horticulture, Punjab, Shailinder Kaur reiterated that the department stood shoulder-to-shoulder with farmers and was ready to extend financial assistance under the Horticulture Mission, RKVY, and all other schemes. She laid special emphasis on reducing input costs through adoption of precision and digital technologies.

During the exhibition, Topcon Company showcased GPS-based auto-steering technology through a live field demonstration, highlighting uniform sowing, spraying and harvesting with drastic savings in time, fuel, seeds, fertilisers and pesticides. Hygroxis Humidia Lab Pvt Ltd demonstrated instant digital soil testing and on-the-spot soil health card generation.