Union Agriculture and farmers Welfare Minister, Radha Mohan Singh laid the Foundation stone of Haryana State University of Horticultural Sciences at Karnal, Haryana. On the occasion Shri 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, said Singh.
Haryana holds 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.
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. Production and productivity of horticultural crops would help farmers double the income, as promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, felt Singh.
Shri 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.
On the occasion, Chief Minister of Haryana, Agriculture Minister of Haryana, Minister of State for Agriculture Haryana, M.P. and MLA were also present.