Punjab is pushing diversification by offering farmers incentives to plant orchards.

 In a region where water is scarce, the AAP-led Punjab government is gradually promoting horticulture and diversifying its crop base. Incentives to switch to fruit orchards and save water will be included by the horticulture department in the future state budget for 2024–2025.

The horticulture director, Shailender Kaur, states that the department anticipates budgetary funds to provide farmers who choose to implement drip irrigation systems in their fruit orchards with incentives. The planned scheme intends to boost fruit cultivation throughout Punjab and conserve groundwater by offering farmers an incentive of Rs 10,000 per acre.

On the other hand, shifting from the wheat-paddy cycle to diverse cropping is difficult in practice. Government hopes notwithstanding, some programmes, like the "Bhaav Antar Bhugtan Yojana" announced in the previous year's budget to protect the earnings of vegetable growers, have not yet proven to be successful.

A number of new initiatives have been proposed by the Punjab horticulture department in advance of the forthcoming budget declaration. One of these ideas is the Punjab Horticulture Advancement and Sustainable Entrepreneurship (PHASE) programme, which aims to reduce groundwater depletion and promote the adoption of fruit orchards. Plans are also in place to facilitate the processing of fruits and vegetables after harvest, as well as programmes to increase the production of off-season and exotic crops through protected cultivation.

In order to address the typical difficulties farmers encounter when trying to sell their produce, Kaur underlined the significance of the PHASE programme in assisting horticulturists through the value chain and the complexities of marketing. Moreover, suggestions for post-harvest handling support, like crates and carton boxes, are meant to facilitate farmers' marketing procedures.

Additionally, infrastructure development for processing, marketing, branding, and logistics for important products including tomato, kinnow, and chilli has been suggested by the Punjab Agri Export Corporation (PAGREXCO). Among the noteworthy programmes aimed at potato growers is the construction of an integrated facility for grading and packing potatoes, which will satisfy consumer demand for items such as potato flakes and French fries.

Even with these audacious plans, some of the previous budget's programmes have not yet been implemented. To protect horticultural growers from market price swings, for example, the "Bhaav Antar Bhugtan Yojna" has not yet been implemented. Though the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is still being developed, Kaur clarified that the scheme's goal is to assist farmers who cultivate potatoes, green capsicum, tomatoes, and cauliflower by participating in markets amid price falls.

Furthermore, the government is in the process of constructing five new horticultural estates, with the primary focus being on strengthening the current fruit plantations. In order to directly assist farmers, facilities like soil testing labs are planned to be integrated into currently operating estates.

Furthermore, efforts like the funding for mushroom cultivation and the generation of flower seeds that were mentioned in earlier budgets have made headway. These actions highlight the government's continuous efforts to support Punjab's horticulture and agricultural diversification.

In summary, the actions taken by the Punjab government, which is led by the AAP, show a proactive attitude towards sustainable farming methods and state economic development. The suggested programmes show a commitment to addressing concerns about water scarcity and encouraging agricultural diversity, notwithstanding implementation obstacles.