Punjab To Boost Tomato Production And Paste Manufacturing: S. Ravneet Singh Bittu

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (GOI), Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Punjab Agro Industries Corporation, and Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) are set to hold joint deliberations to enhance tomato production and paste manufacturing in Punjab. During the minister's visit to the Hindustan Unilever plant in Rajpura, S. Ravneet Singh Bittu, Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries, stressed the need to synergize these efforts to normalize Punjab's tomato cultivation to international standards. The plant at Rajpura, HUL, is a significant ketchup producer and, therefore, has an annual requirement of 11,423 metric tonnes of tomato paste.. However, Punjab currently contributes only 50 metric tonnes to this demand. Minister Singh proposed leveraging the expertise of PAU Ludhiana to develop hybrid tomato seeds that meet global standards, enabling Punjab farmers to scale up their production. “Today, companies are sourcing paste from across India, with Punjab accounting for just 2% of the supply. If farmers are assured fair prices, there’s no reason they shouldn’t lead tomato production,” said Singh. He highlighted that Punjab’s tomatoes are recognized for their superior color quality, as confirmed by HUL Rajpura. The minister also urged HUL management to increase their local procurement, ensuring Punjab’s farmers benefit directly from the plant’s operations. He assured farmers of full support from the Government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “If Maharashtra can dominate tomato paste production, there’s no reason Punjab cannot achieve the same,” Singh asserted. This initiative aims to empower Punjab farmers by fostering collaboration between the government and private sector. Singh reiterated Punjab’s potential to become a leader in tomato production and processing with the right resources and guidance. Prominent officials who attended the visit included Dr. Preeti Yadav (Deputy Commissioner, Patiala), Dr. Nanak Singh (SSP Patiala), Dr. J.P. Dongare (Deputy Agricultural Marketing, MOFPI), Sh. Deb Nath Guha (Site Director, HUL), Sh. Rakesh Jha (Technology Head, HUL), and Charanjeet Singh (Plant Manager, HUL).