Punjab Farmers Can Avail Up to 40% Subsidy for New Orchards

The Punjab government is stepping up efforts to promote crop diversification by encouraging farmers to adopt horticulture through subsidy schemes. State Horticulture Minister Mohinder Bhagat said that farmers can avail subsidies of up to 40% for planting new orchards, as well as for other horticulture-related activities, under the National Horticulture Mission (NHM).

Bhagat said the initiative aims to reduce farmers’ heavy dependence on the traditional wheat–paddy cycle, conserve fast-depleting groundwater resources, and enhance farm incomes through high-value fruit and vegetable crops. The scheme covers a range of horticulture activities, including orchard plantation, making it a viable alternative for farmers seeking sustainable and long-term returns.

Highlighting the state government’s commitment, the minister said the Punjab government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is actively promoting farmer-centric policies to ensure agriculture becomes both profitable and environmentally sustainable.

The state government has also launched the ‘Apna Pind–Apna Bagh’ campaign, giving a new direction to horticulture development. Under this initiative, fruit-bearing plants are being planted on village panchayat lands. Bhagat added that a state-of-the-art Horticulture Development Centre is being established at Ladhowal in Ludhiana.

Application Process

Explaining how farmers can avail the subsidy, Bhagat said interested farmers can apply through their respective District Horticulture Offices. Farmers are also encouraged to seek support from departmental field staff, who will assist them in preparing applications, meeting eligibility requirements, and completing the required formalities.

He emphasized that the Mann government is committed to ensuring that the benefits of all schemes reach farmers at the grassroots level in a transparent and timely manner. The minister urged farmers to make maximum use of horticulture schemes and gradually diversify towards fruit and vegetable cultivation to secure better and more stable incomes.

Punjab’s push towards horticulture comes at a time when concerns over soil health, water scarcity, and farm sustainability are growing, making orchard-based farming an increasingly important option for the state’s agricultural future.