Major Boost for Farmers: Punjab Government Grants ₹40 Crore to PAU, Harpal Cheema Inaugurates Food Processing Complex
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Chandigarh/Ludhiana, April 28
Demonstrating the Punjab Government’s commitment to advancing agricultural excellence and innovation under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Finance, Planning, Excise, and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema announced a ₹40 crore capital grant for Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, for the Financial Year 2025-26. Speaking on April 28, 2025, Cheema highlighted that the government had already supported PAU’s research and infrastructure development with a ₹20 crore grant in the Financial Year 2024-25.
The announcement came during the inauguration of the state-of-the-art ‘Agro Processing Complex,’ equipped with ₹46 lakh worth of machinery, and the foundation stone-laying for the ‘Plant Acclimatization Facility’ and Gene Bank, collectively costing ₹2 crores.
Addressing the gathering, Cheema underscored the ‘Agro Processing Complex’ as a transformative initiative to empower rural youth as entrepreneurs and boost farmers’ incomes through value-added processing at village and cluster levels. He added that the ‘Plant Acclimatization Facility’ will enable PAU to supply high-quality planting material via commercial tissue culture, strengthening Punjab’s agricultural framework.
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During his visit, Cheema reviewed ongoing infrastructure projects funded by the 2024-25 ₹20 crore grant. These include a ₹4 crore modern air-conditioning system for the Dr. M.S. Randhawa Library, renovated seating and book display areas, a ₹2.56 crore additional floor for the boys’ hostel, and upgraded sports facilities, including a revamped gymnasium with ₹1.43 crore in advanced equipment. He also toured PAU’s hostels, sports museum, swimming pool, guest houses, and residential areas.
Cheema was briefed on PAU’s vision to position Punjab as a leader in Digital and SMART Agriculture, utilizing cutting-edge tools like High-Performance Computing (HPC) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for agricultural advancements.
PAU Vice Chancellor Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal expressed gratitude for the Punjab Government’s sustained support, noting that the capital grants have significantly enhanced the university’s research, academic, and physical infrastructure. He reaffirmed PAU’s dedication to serving farmers, students, and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment, Cheema stated that continued investments and strategic initiatives will empower PAU to execute mission-driven projects, fostering groundbreaking research and innovation. This, he said, will ensure long-term benefits for Punjab’s farmers, students, and future agricultural entrepreneurs.
