South Korea’s tech support to help small farmers in Punjab: CM Bhagwant Mann

Following Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s recent visit to South Korea, a delegation from the country held discussions in Chandigarh on January 31, 2025 on cooperation in smart farming, advanced agricultural machinery and biotechnology, reflecting strong interest in partnering Punjab as it moves towards technology-based solutions for small farmers.

The Chief Minister emphasised that South Korea’s vertical farming models and expertise in automation, seed technology and small agricultural machinery can play a decisive role in making farming a profitable and future-ready profession in the state, a positive outlook that was warmly welcomed by the visiting delegation.

South Korean delegation welcomes CM Bhagwant Singh Mann’s positive outlook & expresses interest in cooperation with Punjab. Credit: Punjab Govt

Sharing a few snippets from the meeting on X, Mr. Mann stated: “Today in Chandigarh, a meeting was held with a delegation from the Republic of Korea. Comprehensive discussions were held on smart farming, agricultural machinery, and biotechnology. The primary goal is on enhancing mutual cooperation between Punjab and South Korea to make agriculture a profitable enterprise. The delegation also appreciated Punjab’s rich heritage and the conducive working environment. Additionally, the Korean Delegation was warmly invited to participate in the Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit 2026, scheduled to be held in Mohali, March 13-15, 2026.”

Mr. Mann said, “Punjab is predominantly an agrarian state and has played a historic role in making the country self-reliant in food production.” He noted, however, that shrinking landholdings had made agriculture increasingly unviable for small and marginal farmers, adding, “Because of fragmentation of land, farming is no longer a profitable venture for a large section of our farmers.”

Emphasising the need for technological intervention, the Chief Minister said, “Punjab is keen to attract investment from South Korea in the small agriculture machinery sector, as South Korea has vast experience and proven expertise in this field.” He pointed out that vertical farming and efficient mechanisation had emerged in South Korea precisely because of small landholdings, making its experience highly relevant for Punjab. He said that Punjab became a food-surplus state with the support of Punjab Agricultural University and added, “Today, Punjab is one of the biggest contributors of food grains to the central pool.”

Highlighting Punjab’s eagerness to adopt global best practices, Mr. Mann said, “South Korea has already demonstrated its strength and innovation in the agriculture business, and Punjab wants to benefit from these technological advancements.” Recalling their visit to Pang-yo Techno Valley, often referred to as the Silicon Valley, he said, “We are keen on collaboration in automation of agri-farm machinery, adoption of smart apparatus, biotechnology and seed technology, smart combine harvesters, transplanters, seeds and allied sectors.”

Batting strongly for bilateral cooperation, the Chief Minister said, “It is a matter of great honour for Punjab to host a delegation from such a vibrant and technologically advanced country.”

Meanwhile, responding positively to the vision outlined by the Chief Minister, the visiting South Korean delegation expressed keen interest in collaborating with Punjab, signalling the possibility of concrete partnerships in the near future.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann visited South Korea on December 8 and 9, 2025, as part of a targeted effort to position Punjab as a serious, forward-looking destination for global investment. During the visit, the Chief Minister held structured engagements with industry leaders and technology firms, centering discussions on collaboration in agriculture, advanced manufacturing and technology-driven solutions. The emphasis was firmly on outcomes, with a clear focus on leveraging South Korea’s strengths in smart farming, automation and agri-technology to boost farm productivity, improve profitability for small farmers and drive sustainable economic growth in Punjab.