Panipat: Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the main campus building of Maharana Pratap Horticulture University virtually from Panipat. It will be constructed on 65 acres of land at an estimated cost of Rs 421 crore. Simultaneously, a live programme of the foundation stone laying ceremony was shown at a ceremony held in Uchani on Monday, attended by the officials of the Horticulture Department, university authorities, and farmers. As per the authorities, the university will enhance the agricultural research and development in Haryana.
Vice-Chancellor Dr. Suresh Malhotra, along with university officials, scientists, and farmers, celebrated the auspicious moment with jubilation. Scientists interacted with farmers about horticulture topics during the event. The main focus of the university is to be on research in horticulture crops, giving knowledge to farmers about modern techniques along with developing new varieties, protecting crops, and creating value-added products.
The primary purpose of the university is to help farmers in northern India and encourage them to shift from traditional farming to horticulture. All the research works and their results will be shared with the farmers so that they can improve their productivity as well as income. Eco-friendly technologies will be primarily used for the project.
Dr. Malhotra thinks that the university will help the farmers a lot, providing advanced techniques of horticulture, arranging improved seeds, and innovative solutions to overcome horticulture challenges. There will be nine departments on the campus, focusing on fruit crops, vegetables, flowers and spices, post-harvest management, mushroom research, natural resource management, and basic science.
