State’s youth transform farming landscape with agripreneurship

Across Punjab’s heartland, fields are no longer just sites of cultivation—they’re becoming hubs of innovation. A rising wave of agripreneurs is redefining agriculture by infusing it with business sense, sustainable practices and high-tech tools. Their ventures are creating opportunities, curbing rural migration and transforming farming from subsistence into enterprise.

Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) sits at the centre of this agribusiness movement. “We’ve disbursed over Rs 11 crore in funding to 84 start-ups,” said Dr TS Riar, Principal Investigator at Punjab Agri Business Incubator (PABI). We’re witnessing an explosion of entrepreneurial energy—young minds are bringing fresh solutions to age-old agricultural challenges,” he added.

Among the standout success stories driving the state’s agripreneurial shift is Farmative, a millet-based brand, conceptualised by PAU-trained entrepreneur Paramjit Singh. What began on a modest three-acre farm has blossomed into a full-spectrum food venture—rooted in sustainability, community inclusion and dietary well-being.

Paramjit’s vision extends far beyond cultivation. “I wanted millets to reclaim their place in our kitchens—not just for farmers’ profit but for society’s health,” he said. His model exemplifies the farm to fork concept, incorporating every stage from growing, processing, packaging and labelling to distribution. He now sources millets from fellow farmers, fostering income generation across the region.

What sets Farmative apart is its end-to-end ecosystem. The brand produces millet flour, cookies, cakes and snacks, aligning with the rising urban demand for nutritious alternatives. With a retail outlet on the farm and distribution networks in Ludhiana, Khanna and Jalandhar, Paramjit’s products blend traditional grains with modern tastes. Plans are already underway to open a standalone store in Ludhiana city.

“This is about circular nourishment—reviving crops, supporting farmers and feeding people better,” Paramjit explained.

Veteran farmers are also pivoting. “Beekeeping has become more than just a passion—it’s now a viable livelihood option for many,” said Jaswant Singh Tiwana from Doraha, who ventured into bee farming after training at the PAU. In Barnala, Gursewak Singh turned his agro-industry into a processing hub, selling locally and online. “Agripreneurship gave my farm a business edge,” he noted.

Supported by incubation programmes like Uddam and Udaan, agripreneurs are growing ventures in bio-fertilisers, soil testing, organic farming and food processing. “We’re connecting rural innovation with global opportunities,” said Dr Ramandeep Singh, Director, School of Business Studies, PAU.

Dr Navneet Kaur Gill from SBS added, “Students and farmers now approach agriculture with creativity and strategy—they’re building business plans instead of just crop cycles.”

Centres like Food Industry Business Incubation Centre (FIBIC) and National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations - Technology Business Incubator (NIDHI-TBI) offer short courses, technical support and market linkages to agripreneurs. The aim: develop scalable ventures that are sustainable and rooted in Punjab’s rich agricultural legacy.

Agripreneurship is not a fleeting trend—it’s a structural shift. As Punjab harnesses youth energy and local knowledge, it moves toward a future where its fields bear not just crops, but ideas, innovation and economic resilience.