Ludhiana: Punjab’s agricultural leadership is pivoting toward a high-tech “entrepreneurial mindset” for the state’s farming community, warning that traditional cultivation alone can no longer withstand the triple threat of water depletion, climate volatility, and fluctuating global markets.Arshdeep Singh Thind, Punjab’s administrative secretary for agriculture and farmers’ welfare, met with senior faculty at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) this week to outline a strategy that moves farmers beyond the field and into the factory.The Push for Value AdditionStressing that “entrepreneurship is the word of the day,” Thind urged farmers, women, and youth to adopt subsidiary occupations, specifically agro-processing. The move is designed to create a “fiscal harvest” that remains stable even when international tariffs hit traditional exports.“In view of high tariffs imposed by foreign nations, the rural community must be given a reliable and stable option like agro-processing for a steady flow of income,” Thind said. He also noted that by processing their own crops, farmers can bypass adulterated market products and supply “pure, quality food” directly to consumers.Technological Support and TrainingPAU has already begun the groundwork for this transition by establishing Agro-Processing Complexes (APC) across the state. These hubs provide farmers with access to sophisticated industrial machinery, including milling and grading (wheat flour mills, mini rice mills, and pulse cleaners), specialised processing (hydraulic oil processors and grain storage silos), and advanced packaging (vacuum and nitrogen-flush packaging machines to extend shelf life and meet export standards).Trendsetting EntrepreneursPAU vice-chancellor Satbir Singh Gosal noted that the shift from self-help groups to individual entrepreneurs is already yielding results. High-demand “side-businesses” such as jaggery production and honey-based food products are emerging as lucrative alternatives to sugar, finding eager markets both locally and abroad.Director of research A S Dhatt added that value addition for staples like wheat, rice, and oilseeds offers the most realistic path to doubling rural incomes. By focusing on “vocal for local” initiatives and strengthening the expert-entrepreneur relationship, the university aims to ensure long-term livelihood sustainability in the face of an uncertain environment.
