Mann Government’s Big Change: Food Processing Raises Farmers’ Income and Creates Jobs in Punjab

National News: Foreign investment is quickly entering Punjab’s agriculture and food manufacturing sector. The Punjab government has introduced several important steps to raise farmers’ income and provide jobs to the youth. These efforts are helping farmers earn more, stop crop waste, and create new work opportunities in villages. Punjab has long been known as the food bowl of India, and now its food processing industry is growing rapidly.

New Schemes to Support Farmers

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s government has started various schemes to ensure that farmers get fair prices for their crops and to make farming a profitable occupation. The state has set up large Food Parks in Fazilka, Kapurthala, and Ludhiana. In these food parks, farm produce is turned into pickles, juices, jams, and packaged vegetables. This helps farmers get better prices for their crops. Punjab is now among the top three states in India under the Mega Food Park scheme. Four smaller centres have been opened in Hoshiarpur, Amritsar, Abohar, and Talwandi Sabo, all linked to the Ludhiana Food Park. These centres help keep fruits, vegetables, and milk fresh. Farmers bring their produce to these centres, and companies buy it to make different products.

Support for Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs

The Punjab government is helping small entrepreneurs start 7,373 new units with an investment of ₹306 crore. It is giving financial aid and training to youth, women, and farmer groups to start small businesses. The government offers up to 35% help for new business setups and 50% support for people from Scheduled Castes. These efforts are creating many new jobs in rural areas. The government is also focusing on building cold storages and warehouses. Now, farmers can store potatoes, onions, and other vegetables safely without spoilage. Earlier, they had to sell their crops quickly, often at low prices. With cold storage, they can wait and sell their produce at better rates. This has reduced the control of middlemen and directly benefits the farmers.

New Investments and Job Opportunities

Punjab’s Agriculture Minister, Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, has asked the central government to establish another Mega Food Park in Bathinda. This will help farmers in the Malwa region. The goal is to create facilities for farmers in every district. The state is offering special incentives to foreign investors, which is leading to new factories and thousands of new jobs across Punjab.

Training and Modern Farming

The government has also launched training programs to teach farmers about new technology. Farmers are now turning towards organic farming and modern agricultural methods. Punjab is also supporting start-ups and young entrepreneurs with loans and subsidies to turn their ideas into successful businesses. The government has set a target to double farmers’ income. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has said that Punjab will soon become a major hub for food processing along with agriculture. The more products made from farm produce, the higher the farmers’ earnings will be. In the coming years, new food parks, cold chains, and processing units will open across the state. The government’s mission is to make every farmer’s family prosperous and ensure the growth of villages. These efforts by the Mann government are bringing a new wave of happiness and prosperity to Punjab.