Chandigarh: As 2025 concludes, Punjab’s agricultural landscape has been transformed under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s leadership. The state government’s bold initiatives have resulted in record farmer remuneration, significant strides in crop diversification, and a strong focus on sustainable practices. Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian highlighted that the record sugarcane price of ₹416 per quintal ensures Punjab’s cane growers are the highest paid in India, reflecting the government’s commitment to rewarding farmers’ hard work.
The year also witnessed a major environmental success, with stubble burning incidents dropping by 53% during the Kharif season, aided by over 1.58 lakh subsidised Crop Residue Management machines provided to farmers since 2018. Crop diversification efforts showed robust growth, including a 20% increase in cotton cultivation and a 17% expansion in Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) areas, conserving precious groundwater. Over 52,000 farmers enrolled online for subsidised cotton seeds, reflecting strong confidence in government schemes.
Punjab also took concrete steps to break the paddy cycle through a pilot project across six districts, switching over 11,000 acres from paddy to Kharif maize with incentives and subsidised seeds. Minister Khudian emphasized that these initiatives, along with schemes like DSR and cotton seed subsidies, have driven transformative change. The government plans to continue its focus on innovation and eco-friendly farming into 2026, aiming for sustained prosperity and sustainability for Punjab’s farmers.
