In a significant step toward enhancing rural entrepreneurship and value addition at the grassroots level, Punjab Food Commissioner Mr. Bal Mukand Sharma, along with 18 senior officials from the State Cooperative Department, visited the Agro-Processing Complex (APC) recently established at the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana.
The delegation included key figures such as Joint Registrar Patiala Division Mr. Kuldeep Kumar, Deputy Registrar Ludhiana Mr. Vijender Sandhu, four Assistant Registrars, Inspectors, and Secretaries representing various cooperative societies from across Punjab.
Dr. Mahesh Kumar, Additional Director of Research (Agricultural Engineering), welcomed the delegation and provided a detailed overview of the university’s latest initiative. He highlighted that the state-of-the-art Agro-Processing Complex was set up under the leadership of PAU Vice-Chancellor Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal, with the aim of promoting on-farm value addition, reducing post-harvest losses, and boosting rural employment.
“The Agro-Processing Complex is designed to function throughout the year, addressing the seasonal nature of agricultural produce and providing practical training to farmers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers,” said Dr. Kumar.
Key features of the complex were explained by Dr. T.C. Mittal, Head of the Department of Processing and Food Engineering, and Dr. M.S. Alam, Principal Scientist. They guided the officials through various processing units including:
- Dal milling and colour sorting machines
- Vacuum and nitrogen packaging systems
- Flour (atta) chakki and mini rice mill
- Hydraulic cold press for oil extraction
- Millet processing machines
- Modern jaggery and soy processing units
- Feed milling equipment
The officials toured the complex and engaged in discussions around the potential of these technologies to transform rural livelihoods. Mr. Kuldeep Kumar noted the enthusiasm of the young officers in the delegation and stressed their role in empowering farmers through cooperative models. “Our cooperative societies are already helping farmers with finance, seed distribution, and machinery. These new processing tools can significantly improve their earning potential,” he said.
In a parallel visit, the delegation also explored the PAU Agri-Business Incubation Center under the Department of Food Science and Technology, where Dr. Savita Sharma (Head of Department), along with Dr. Arshdeep Randhawa and Dr. Nanda, showcased various low-cost and scalable food processing techniques suitable for small farmers and women entrepreneurs.
Expressing appreciation for PAU’s efforts, Mr. Vijender Sandhu delivered the vote of thanks and assured that the insights gained would be channelled into ground-level implementation. He further stated that cooperative societies would actively explore the possibility of setting up similar agro-processing units in their regions to enable farm-to-market transformation and enhanced profitability for farmers.
The team left the university impressed with the cutting-edge infrastructure and educational outreach, carrying with them resource literature and a shared vision for strengthening value chains in Punjab’s agricultural sector.
By
