Kerala Minister Lauds Punjab’s Progressive Horticulture Model*
Kerala Government Delegation Meets Punjab Horticulture Minister Mohinder Bhagat
Chandigarh, September 25
A high-level delegation from the Kerala Government called on Punjab Horticulture Minister, Mr. Mohinder Bhagat, at Punjab Bhawan, Chandigarh, yesterday evening. The delegation was led by Kerala Agriculture Minister, Mr. P. Prasad, and included Mission Director (Horticulture) Mr. Saji John and Chairman, State Agricultural Price Board, Dr. P. Rajasekharan. The delegation highly appreciated Punjab’s progressive horticulture model.
During the interaction, Cabinet Minister Mr. Mohinder Bhagat informed the delegation that under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the state is working rapidly to promote crop diversification and enhance farmers’ income. He explained that the government is providing farmers with extensive technical knowledge and subsidies. He further informed that horticulture is being undertaken on nearly 5 lakh hectares in Punjab, significantly contributing to the consistent growth of farmers’ earnings.
Sharing future plans, Mr. Bhagat said that the Punjab Government is strengthening fruit and vegetable processing units to ensure better market value for farmers. He added that new cold storages, value addition centres, and agro-processing clusters are being established.
Kerala Agriculture Minister, Mr. P. Prasad, said that Punjab’s progressive initiatives for farmers are commendable and described Punjab’s horticulture model as a roadmap for other states. Highlighting his own state’s horticulture sector, Mr. Prasad said that nearly 22 lakh hectares in Kerala are under horticulture, with banana, coconut, spices, and vegetables being the major crops. He also extended an invitation to Minister Bhagat to participate in Kerala’s international agriculture fair “Vaiga.”
As a gesture of goodwill and cultural exchange, Minister Mohinder Bhagat presented Punjab’s traditional Phulkari to the Kerala Agriculture Minister, while Mr. Prasad gifted a traditional Kerala snake boat and dhoti to Mr. Bhagat as souvenirs. Both sides expressed their commitment to inter-state collaboration in the field of horticulture.
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