High-tech facility set up at Centre of Excellence for Potato in Dhogri
Jalandhar, Aug 31 — The Punjab government on Monday inaugurated the region’s first government-owned virus indexing laboratory at the Centre of Excellence for Potato in Dhogri village, a move officials said will help prevent seed-borne infections and protect the livelihoods of potato growers in and around Jalandhar.
The laboratory, established at a cost of nearly ₹1 crore, is equipped with advanced diagnostic techniques designed to detect seed-borne viruses at an early stage, preventing the planting of infected tubers that can trigger disease outbreaks later in the crop cycle. Punjab Horticulture Minister Mohinder Bhagat formally opened the facility and described it as a path‑breaking initiative by the Bhagwant Singh Mann government to strengthen the state’s horticulture sector, according to a PTI report.
“This laboratory will cater to potato growers not just in Jalandhar, but across the entire state,” Bhagat said, adding that the facility will help produce certified, top-quality, disease-free potato seeds and thereby boost yields and farmers’ profit margins.
Officials present at the inauguration highlighted the practical benefits for cultivators. By screening seed potatoes for viral infections before planting, the laboratory aims to reduce crop losses, save labour and prevent the cascading economic impact of diseased crops — a particular concern for an area where potato cultivation is an important rural livelihood.
- Facility: government-owned virus indexing laboratory at Dhogri Centre of Excellence for Potato
- Cost: nearly ₹1 crore
- Intended beneficiaries: potato seed growers across Jalandhar and the wider state
- Attendance at inauguration: more than 200 potato seed growers and officials from neighbouring districts
Regional reach and local context
The minister said the laboratory is only the second government-owned facility of its kind in Punjab and will serve growers beyond Jalandhar. Officials from neighbouring districts — Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, Tarantaran and Amritsar — attended the event, underlining the regional role the Dhogri laboratory is expected to play, the PTI report stated.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Centre of Excellence for Potato, Dhogri village, Jalandhar |
| Purpose | Detect seed-borne viruses; certify disease-free potato seed |
| Estimated cost | Nearly ₹1 crore |
| Stakeholders present | Over 200 seed growers; officials from Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, Tarantaran and Amritsar |
Local agricultural leaders and the Kartarpur MLA, Balkar Singh, underscored the link between Punjab’s prosperity and its agrarian health. He emphasised that empowering farmers is essential for the state to thrive and expressed confidence that the new laboratory would help curb losses and secure steady incomes for cultivators.
For Jalandhar’s farmers, who rely heavily on potato as a cash crop, access to timely diagnostics and certified disease-free seed could lower the risk of yield decline caused by viral diseases, reduce input waste and improve returns at harvest. Extension services and local horticulture departments will need to ensure growers know how to access the facility’s services and integrate virus indexing into their seed selection practices.
The Dhogri laboratory’s arrival comes amid broader efforts by the state administration to support horticulture and allied sectors. Officials said the facility will play a pivotal role in producing certified seeds and in strengthening plant-health management systems for potato growers across Punjab.
