PAU cornerstone of Punjab’s agri progress: Minister

Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) hosted a forward-looking technology demonstration on ‘Application of Agriculture Technology to Rural Sector for Employment Generation’ on its campus, attracting eminent policymakers, scientists and government officials. The event marked a significant stride towards aligning agricultural research with rural entrepreneurship.

In his address, Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Punjab, lauded the PAU as a cornerstone of state’s agricultural progress, likening it to a beacon of education, research, technology transfer and extension services.

He underlined the importance of a synergy between the Agriculture Department and PAU to holistically uplift the state’s farming community.

“Our goal must be to provide dignified livelihoods to small-scale farmers and empower the marginalised through sustainable and scalable agri-solutions,” he said.

The minister emphasised that agricultural education should translate into better-skilled farmers and agri-entrepreneurs. He also spoke about harnessing allied sectors such as food processing, dairy and packaging to increase farmers’ incomes and reduce dependency on traditional cropping patterns.

“With facilities such as PAU’s Agro-Processing Complex, we can transform perishables into export-worthy value-added products,” he said.

KAP Sinha,Chief Secretary, Punjab, highlighted the role of the new-age agriculture in reshaping rural employment. “Technological integration in agriculture is no longer optional; it is essential. Digital tools in data analytics, precision farming and supply chain management are not only boosting productivity but also opening up new employment avenues for the youth,” he said.

He called for robust public-private-academic collaborations to scale such technologies while ensuring inclusivity and affordability for rural communities. Sinha pointed out that technology must serve as an enabler and an equaliser in the agricultural landscape of Punjab. He also voiced concern over pressing issues such as stubble burning and called for a sense of collective responsibility to effectively address such challenges.

Welcoming the dignitaries, the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, described the demonstration as “a confluence of science, strategy and social commitment.”

With the university’s mission not limited to only research and development, he talked about transforming rural livelihoods through practical, scalable models. “This is not merely a demonstration, it is a declaration of intent to convert research into rural enterprise and innovation into income,” he observed.

Dr Gosal cited the example of the PAU’s Agro-Processing Complex, featuring advanced machinery including pulse mills, rice graders, vacuum packaging units and silos, which enable small farmers to process and market their produce. The jaggery processing unit, another highlight, illustrated how traditional farm outputs such as sugarcane could be transformed into market-ready products.

The VC reiterated that such integrated value-chain models significantly reduce post-harvest losses and enhance farmer profitability. “With the continued support of the state government, these models can be replicated across the state to catalyse rural employment,” he affirmed.