Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
CM Mann’s South Korea outreach opens door for smart farming partnership in Punjab
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, January 31, 2026:Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s sustained efforts to position the state as a global investment destination are beginning to deliver concrete outcomes, with South Korea expressing strong interest in extending technological cooperation to Punjab’s agriculture sector.
Following the Chief Minister’s recent visit to South Korea, a high-level delegation from the country held detailed discussions in Chandigarh on collaboration in smart farming, advanced agricultural machinery and biotechnology.
During the interaction, the Chief Minister highlighted that South Korea’s expertise in vertical farming, automation, seed technology and small-scale agricultural machinery could play a transformative role in making farming profitable and future-ready for Punjab’s small and marginal farmers.
The delegation responded positively, acknowledging the relevance of Korean models to Punjab’s agrarian structure.
Sharing details of the meeting on social media platform X, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that comprehensive discussions were held on strengthening cooperation between Punjab and South Korea in agriculture-related sectors.
He added that the Korean delegation appreciated Punjab’s rich heritage and conducive business environment, and was invited to participate in the Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit 2026, scheduled to be held in Mohali from March 13 to 15.
Interacting with the delegation, the Chief Minister said Punjab has historically played a pivotal role in ensuring India’s food security but shrinking landholdings have made farming increasingly unviable for many farmers.
He stressed that technological intervention is essential to address this challenge, noting that South Korea’s success in vertical farming and efficient mechanisation emerged from similar constraints of limited land availability.
Drawing parallels between the development journeys of India and South Korea, CM Mann said both nations faced poverty as a major challenge at the time of independence.
He observed that Punjab overcame this through agricultural innovation and institutional support, becoming a major contributor to the country’s food grain reserves. He emphasised that Punjab is now keen to adopt global best practices to ensure sustainable and profitable agriculture.
The Chief Minister expressed particular interest in collaboration across areas such as automation of farm machinery, smart agricultural equipment, biotechnology, seed technology, combine harvesters and transplanters. He said South Korea’s proven strengths in these domains align closely with Punjab’s current priorities.
Welcoming the delegation, CM Mann described it as an honour for Punjab to host representatives from a technologically advanced nation and reiterated the invitation to the Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit as a platform to take discussions forward in a structured and mutually beneficial manner.
Responding to the Chief Minister’s vision, the South Korean delegation conveyed keen interest in working with Punjab, indicating that the discussions could soon translate into concrete partnerships.