Chandigarh, Sept 3: Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann granted approval for the setup of a Horticulture Knowledge Centre at Punjab Agricultural University in Ludhiana. The initiative forms part of a broader 1,300 crore rupee state program supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency to expand crop diversification and improve agricultural returns across the region.
Addressing a department review meeting, the Chief Minister maintained that the state aims to increase horticulture coverage to 16 lakh hectares over the next decade. He affirmed that the project will invest in modern farming infrastructure, research, high-quality nursery stock, and post-harvest handling facilities. Senior officials including Chief Secretary K.A.P. Sinha and Agriculture Secretary Arshdeep Singh Thind attended the meeting to outline the project’s institutional roadmap.
