Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal Launches Punjab’s First Central Pivot Irrigation System at PAU
April 8, 2026
ETT News / Ludhiana
Punjab took a step towards modern and water-efficient farming on Wednesday as Cabinet Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal inaugurated North India’s first Central Pivot Irrigation System at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana. The project, funded by NABARD, aims to promote automated irrigation, improve water-use efficiency, and address Punjab’s worsening groundwater crisis.
Speaking at the inauguration, Goyal said Punjab urgently needs to adopt modern irrigation technologies to conserve water and make farming more sustainable. He urged scientists, officers and students to focus on innovation and embrace advanced agricultural practices, especially at a time when Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly shaping the future of farming.
The minister said the state government remains committed to groundwater preservation and has already made progress in increasing the use of surface water for agriculture. He also praised the Soil & Water Conservation Department for introducing the system in Punjab and thanked NABARD for supporting the demonstration project at PAU.
Explaining the significance of the system, Goyal said the Central Pivot Irrigation System can irrigate a three-acre field through a fully automated process with minimal manual intervention. He said the technology would especially benefit farmers facing labour shortages, as the irrigation cycle can be completed by simply entering the required data into the system.
Officials said the system has inverted sprinkler units mounted on a 60-metre-long arm, which rotates around a central pivot to irrigate a circular field area. The design allows precision irrigation without manual labour and ensures better distribution of water.
Chief Conservator of Soils Mohinder Singh Saini said the system would help improve water-use efficiency and crop productivity while serving as a demonstration model for farmers across the state. He said the installation could encourage wider adoption of modern irrigation practices in Punjab.
PAU Vice Chancellor Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal, NABARD DGM Amit Garg, progressive farmers, scientists, faculty members and senior officers from the departments of Soil & Water Conservation, Agriculture, Horticulture and allied sectors were present at the event.
Barinder Kumar Goyal Central Pivot Irrigation System PAU Ludhiana Punjab Agricultural University North India First Irrigation System Automated Irrigation System Punjab
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