CHANDIGARH: Punjab Horticulture Minister S. Chetan Singh Jouramajra, on Friday, informed that significant progress has been noticed in crop diversification under Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann's leadership.
While presenting statistics showing growth in Punjab's horticultural sector over the past 28 months, S. Chetan Singh Jouramajra said 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 grown from 4, 39, 210 hectares to 4, 81, 616 hectares, indicating a shift towards crop diversification.
The Cabinet Minister detailed that orchard coverage has grown from 96, 686 hectares to 1, 03, 161 hectares, with an increase of 6, 475 hectares for fruit cultivation, while Vegetable cultivation has seen a large increase of 35, 009 hectares, with the total area growing from 3, 21, 466 hectares to 3, 56, 465 hectares in the last 28 months.
The area for ornamental plant cultivation has increased from 1, 728 hectares to 2, 050 hectares, informed S. Chetan Singh Jouramajra, while noting growth in mushroom cultivation, mentha oil and turmeric production.
"These numbers show the Horticulture Department's efforts and the success of Chief Minister Mann's vision for agricultural diversification in Punjab, " said the Cabinet Minister. He said that this shift towards horticulture is important for sustainable farming and improving farmers' incomes in the state.
The increase in horticultural acreage demonstrating the Punjab government's tireless efforts to promote crop diversification and support farmers in adopting alternative, high-value crops, he added.
The Horticulture Minister said that for bolstering crop diversification and promoting horticulture in the state, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led government has also released new nursery rules (amended).