Punjab Horticulture Minister S. Chetan Singh Jouramajra announced substantial progress in crop diversification under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann.
Presenting statistics on Punjab’s horticultural sector over the past 28 months, Minister Jouramajra revealed that the total area under horticulture has increased by 42,406 hectares since the current government took office in March 2022. The cultivated area has expanded from 4,39,210 hectares to 4,81,616 hectares, reflecting a significant shift towards crop diversification.
The Minister detailed that orchard coverage has grown from 96,686 hectares to 1,03,161 hectares, marking an increase of 6,475 hectares for fruit cultivation. Vegetable cultivation has seen a notable increase of 35,009 hectares, with the total area rising from 3,21,466 hectares to 3,56,465 hectares over the past 28 months.
Additionally, the area for ornamental plant cultivation has increased from 1,728 hectares to 2,050 hectares. Minister Jouramajra also noted growth in mushroom cultivation, mentha oil, and turmeric production.
“These numbers highlight the Horticulture Department’s efforts and the success of Chief Minister Mann’s vision for agricultural diversification in Punjab,” stated the Minister. He emphasized that this shift towards horticulture is crucial for sustainable farming and enhancing farmers’ incomes in the state.
The increase in horticultural acreage demonstrates the Punjab government’s relentless efforts to promote crop diversification and support farmers in adopting alternative, high-value crops, he added. To further bolster crop diversification and promote horticulture in the state, the Bhagwant Mann-led government has released new nursery rules.
