Chandigarh, December 1 – Haryana Vidhan Sabha today passed the Haryana State University of Horticultural Sciences, Karnal Bill 2015.
While moving the Bill in Haryana Vidhan Sabha, the Agricultural Minister, Mr O. P. Dhankar thanked the Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi for making a provision of Rs.50 crore in the Union Government Budget for setting up Horticulture University in the state. This University will be established at Karnal. He also thanked the Chief Minister Mr. Manohar Lal for setting up of three regional centres of the new university in different parts of the state. He said that at present there is no separate University of Horticulture Sciences in the state.
Under the newly passed bill, a Horticultural University will be established in the State for the purpose of affiliating, teaching, and ensuring proper and systematic training, research and extension in modern systems of horticultural sciences, vegetable sciences and allied sciences. This University will have the departments of fruits, vegetables, flowers, medicinal and aromatic plants, spices, mushroom, post-harvest technologies and processing with focus on newer technologies of biotechnologies, molecular sciences that will help in development of newer varieties suitable for agro-climatic conditions of the state. Newer production technologies of water conservation micro-irrigation, protected cultivation shall get boost in research and development in this sector.
The University will be set up with the objective to impart education in different branches of horticulture and allied sciences and to further advancement in learning and research in similar activities. The university would undertake study in post-harvest management and marketing strategies of horticulture produce and products. It will make liaison and establish vital linkage with concerned departments or institutions or organization of horticulture of other State Governments and Union Government, national and international research institutes as well as private sector specialized in the field of horticulture and allied sciences so as to keep pace with the latest technology. The university will raise level of education, teaching, research and extension in horticulture to international standards. With the establishment of this University, there shall be research support to Horticulture Department for diversification from agriculture to horticulture.
The colleges and institutions related to various disciplines of horticulture and allied sciences located within the state including those to be established would be affiliated to the University.