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Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
New fisheries dept office in city to support farmers, boost prodn
Ludhiana: Animal husbandry minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian Thursday inaugurated a new administrative office for the fisheries department in Chhawani Mohalla here. Buillt for Rs 84 lakh, the state-of-the-art facility aims to streamline services and provide enhanced support to fish and shrimp farmers across Punjab, said an official statement. Highlighting Punjab's robust fisheries sector, Khuddian said the state produces 2 lakh tonnes of fish annually, with approximately 43,683 acres dedicated to fish farming. He emphasised that the new office will serve as a one-stop hub for fish farmers, enabling smoother access to resources and services. He urged farmers to adopt fish farming as a lucrative auxiliary occupation to boost their income, assuring them of comprehensive support from the state govt. The minister also extended his heartfelt greetings to all fish and shrimp farmers, acknowledging their vital contribution to the state's economy. He reiterated that Punjab govt is dedicated to strengthening the fisheries sector and promoting sustainable agricultural practices to enhance the livelihoods of farmers across the state. He added that the fisheries department has enabled fish farmers in the five southwestern districts of Punjab — Sri Muktsar Sahib, Fazilka, Bathinda, Mansa, and Faridkot — to earn a net profit of Rs 2.50 to Rs 4 lakh by bringing thousands of acres of barren, saline, and waterlogged land under shrimp farming. Director of fisheries Gurpreet Singh said under the guidance of the cabinet minister and the directions of principal secretary Rahul Bhandari, about 40%-60% subsidy is being provided by the state govt to farmers to adopt various projects such as fish and shrimp ponds, purchase of fish transport vehicles, fish kiosks/shops, cold storage plants, fish feed mills, and ornamental fish units. Encouraging farmers to engage in fish farming, he highlighted that the department has already provided self-employment to 637 beneficiaries and disbursed subsidies worth Rs 30.63 crores to fish farmers. Additional deputy commissioner Amarjit Bains, assistant director JS Grewal, among others were also present on the occasion.
Hindustan Times
09-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Chilli processing plant to come up in Abohar by Sept: Punjab agri minister
The Punjab government will commission a ₹9.50 crore chilli processing plant in Abohar by September, state agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian said. Being established by the Punjab Agri Export Corporation Ltd (PAGREXCO) over one acre of land, the plant will have an installed capacity of five tonnes per hour, the minister said. The area under chilli cultivation in the state has been increasing annually, with farmers being encouraged to grow high-yielding varieties suitable for processing, he said. As of 2024, Punjab's chilli cultivation spanned 10,614 hectares, the highest recorded area in recent years, yielding 21,416 metric tonnes, the minister said. Ferozepur district leads in chilli production, followed by Patiala, Malerkotla, Sangrur, Jalandhar, Tarn Taran, Amritsar, SBS Nagar and Hoshiarpur. Ferozepur's average yield of approximately 19 metric tonnes (MT) per hectare showcases the region's efficient farming practices, Khuddian said. PAGREXCO directly procures chillies from farmers and aggregators, leveraging a well-established marketing network, he added. The corporation is a major exporter of red chilli paste from Punjab, including to the Middle East and African countries. Chilli cultivation has emerged as a vital component of Punjab's agricultural diversification, providing farmers with a lucrative alternative to traditional crops such as wheat and paddy, the minister said. The state's favourable agro-climatic conditions have strategically positioned Punjab as a key player in chilli production and processing, capitalising on new opportunities in the agricultural sector, he added.
