Ludhiana, Jan 21: Farmers across Punjab are transforming their traditional agricultural practices by adopting QR code technology to provide a digital identity for their produce.
According to reports, this shift allows growers to move beyond simple cultivation, enabling them to manage the marketing and sale of their goods directly to the public while bypassing traditional middlemen.
The initiative, spearheaded by researchers at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, aims to solve the persistent issue of quality verification in the open market.
By scanning a code on a packet of flour or turmeric, a consumer can immediately view the processing date, the specific methods used, and the identity of the unit responsible for the product.
“In the market, it is often difficult to distinguish between genuine and high-quality products,” noted Preeti, a scientist from the Department of Processing and Food Engineering at PAU.
She mentioned that digital technology has emerged as an effective solution for farmers looking to establish trust with their customer base.
The implementation process involves digitizing product data into cloud-based platforms and converting those links into printable codes.
A study at the PAU Agro Processing Complex successfully applied this method to a variety of staples, including jaggery, besan, and rice.
Gurveer, a researcher from the same department, said that the primary benefit of this system is the ability to store vast amounts of information in a compact digital format.
He mentioned that the system is designed to be affordable for individual farmers, self-help groups, and rural youth who have undergone training at skill development centers.
“The simple technology requires only a smartphone and internet connection, yet it offers powerful benefits,” Preeti and Gurveer said in a joint statement.
They noted that the system helps in securing better prices by building transparency from the farm to the plate and provides protection against product counterfeiting.
