Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has urged the university scientists and administrators to work in unison to set up the agro-horticulture based eco-tourism model together with food processing. They should train more and more farmers in food processing and motivate them to adopt new techniques so that they can earn good profit from their production, he said.
Addressing the 37th Foundation day of Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni in Solan virtually from Shimla today, Thakur said Himachal Pradesh has made splendid progress in the field of horticulture which now account for about 33 percent of agricultural production and generates annual business of apple alone to the tune of Rs. 5000 crore.
He expressed hope that the progressive farmers of every district who were honoured today would share their knowledge and experience with other farmers.
Chief Minister also inaugurated rupees eight crore Electron Microscopy Lab on the occasion.
Vice-chancellor of the University Dr. Parvinder Kaushal while welcoming the Chief Minister and other dignitaries presented the overview of various achievements of the university.
The role of agriculture and horticulture in employment generation, nutritional security, poverty alleviation programs is becoming increasingly important, he said.
Jai Ram Thakur said higher education institutions like the Dr. Y.S. Parmar University help in developing latest knowledge and technology so that it reaches the farming community. He also remembered first Chief Minister and founder of Himachal Pradesh Dr. Y.S. Parmar, who had envisioned to set up a Horticulture University in the state.
He said that during the covid-19 pandemic, the horticulture economy has provided much needed support to the state economy.
Chief Minister said the university has been ranked ‘A’ grade in Atal innovation ranking released by the Union Ministry of Education and also ranked 11th in the ranking of Indian Council of Agricultural Research affiliated Agricultural university.
He said that since its inception, 7376 students have taken education from this university and at present 2627 students are studying in various degree programs in the University.
He said that the state government has also established a College of Horticulture and Forestry in Thunag area of Mandi district.
Jai Ram Thakur asked the university to train human resources to find latest technologies from new research and to spread this knowledge to the farmers, so that they can increase their income and living standard.
He said the state government has also constituted a Task Force to successfully implement the historic New Education Policy 2020.
Jai Ram Thakur said more than 80 projects funded by various funding institutions are currently underway in the university and during the last one year the University has succeeded in getting 18 new projects worth Rs.7.45 crores.
He said that the state government has also sanctioned various projects to the university. It has provided grant in World Bank and Asian Development Bank-funded Horticulture Development Project and Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Institutional Development Scheme worth Rs. 25 crore.
Jal Shakti minister Mahender Singh Thakur, forests minister Rakesh Pathania and MLA Col. Dhani Ram Shandil were present at Nauni University campus, whereas IT minister Dr. Ram Lal Markanda, health and family welfare minister Dr. Rajiv Saizal, Vice chairman HP state disaster management authority Randhir Sharma were present with the Chief Minister at Shimla.
