Establishment of First Horticulture University in Haryana

HARYANA: Radha Mohan Singh on Wednesday laid the Foundation stone of Haryana State University of Horticultural Sciences  at Karnal, Haryana. On the occasion Singh said that the establishment of first Horticulture University in Haryana will fulfill the long pending need of the people of the State. A full fledged horticultural university will cater the needs to support the gap between teaching, research and extension activities in the state and will establish the convergence and synergy to disseminate latest technology and horticulture education to our young generation, besides identifying strategies for further development.

Singh said that on the Horticulture development, Haryana holds tremendous potential on account of its fertile lands, favorable climate and water resources. Farmers in Haryana have also started taking up horticulture crops as a separate viable economic activity.  Haryana has made a vision to make Modern Fruit and Vegetable Cultivation State and to give a boost to the growth of horticulture and also creation of market and post harvest infrastructure. Agriculture Minister expect that this shall also demonstrate significant improvement in production and productivity of horticultural crops to double the income of the farmers, and help in achieving self-sufficiency. This university is expected to help in improving productivity levels and to adopt appropriate crop diversification to suit the agro climatic conditions of the region.

Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister said that Haryana is leader in adopting Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture programme and giving priority for protected cultivation and post Harvest management. The State leap forwarded to increase area under horticultural crops from 2.0lakh hectare in the year 2002-03 to 4.5 lakh hectare during 2013-14 and production increases from 2.51 million tonnes to 6.30 millin tonnes during same period. State has planned to increase the area to 9.0 lakh hectare with production to 27 million tonnes in next decade.

Singh said that this University will also act as a skill development centre to cater the larger demand for trained manpower in the production, post harvest and processing industries. There is a huge scope for agro-processing industries like mango, citrus, aonla, strawberry in fruits and pea, tomato, potato, carrots, garlic, onion in vegetables and mushroom. Shri Singh further said that due to its proximity to major markets like Delhi and tri-city of Chandigarh it offers an excellent marketing and export channels.

Singh hope that the region and crop specific research & extension activities in Horticulture University will not only boost farmers of Haryana in horticulture production and productivity but will make our nation more nutritionally secure.

On the occasion, Chief Minister of Haryana, Agriculture Minister of Haryana, Minister of State for Agriculture Haryana, M.P. and MLA were also present.