Punjab Recognized as “Best Performing State” Under AIF Scheme
Chandigarh, September 5: Punjab has been honored with the prestigious “Best Performing State” award under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) Scheme for the year 2023-24. This recognition was bestowed upon Punjab by Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Mr. Shivraj Singh Chauhan during the AIF Excellence Awards Ceremony held at the National Agriculture Science Complex, New Delhi.
Horticulture Minister Praises State Officials
Horticulture Minister S. Chetan Singh Jouramajra expressed his commendation for the dedicated efforts of the department officials and the entire AIF team, attributing the state’s achievement to their exceptional work.
Award Presentation
The coveted award was formally presented to Horticulture Minister S. Chetan Singh Jouramajra at his office today by Director Horticulture Mrs. Shailender Kaur IFS, Joint Director Mr. Tajinder Bajwa, Deputy Director Harpreet Singh, and AIF Team Leader Ms. Ravdeep Kaur.
Punjab’s Growth Under AIF Scheme
Minister Jouramajra emphasized Punjab’s remarkable progress under the AIF Scheme. He noted that in FY 2021-22, only 164 projects were approved. However, through strategic planning and the establishment of a dedicated Project Monitoring Unit (PMU) within the Department of Horticulture, the number of sanctioned projects surged to 3,480 in FY 2022-23 and further increased to 12,064 in FY 2023-24. As of August 2024, the total number of sanctioned projects stands at 16,680.
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Investment and Project Categories
These projects represent a significant investment of ₹6,626 crores aimed at strengthening agricultural infrastructure. Participating banks have approved term loans totaling ₹3,941 crores, demonstrating their commitment to supporting agriculture in Punjab. Key categories of projects established under the scheme include custom hiring centers, primary processing centers, sorting-grading units, cold stores, post-harvest infrastructure, solar pumps and panels, and more.
Leadership and Beneficiaries
The scheme has been actively promoted and advanced in Punjab under the leadership of S. Chetan Singh Jouramajra, with strategic support from Sh. K.A.P Sinha, Special Chief Secretary. Notably, over 70% of the AIF beneficiaries in Punjab are farmers.
Future Expansion
The Cabinet Minister highlighted that this achievement underscores Punjab’s progressive role in extending the benefits of the AIF Scheme to the agricultural community. Director Horticulture Mrs. Shailender Kaur mentioned that the scheme has been expanded to include additional activities like mushroom farming, polyhouse/greenhouse setups, vertical farming, hydroponic and aeroponic farming, and logistics facilities. This expansion presents new opportunities for farmers and entrepreneurs in Punjab to adopt modern farming techniques and infrastructure.
