Karnal, May 29
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Thursday said crop diversification and horticulture-based farming are crucial for increasing farmers’ income and ensuring sustainable agricultural growth. He made the remarks while addressing a national conference on quality seeds and planting material for horticultural crops in Karnal.
The chief minister also dedicated 14 new horticulture science centers to Maharana Pratap Horticulture University and announced the introduction of Master’s and PhD programs in subjects including post-harvest management, plant pest control, and disease management.
Addressing the conference, Saini said the newly inaugurated centers would help farmers gain access to advanced technologies, quality planting material, and scientific guidance. He said modern farming practices and scientific management are essential for improving productivity and strengthening the horticulture sector.
Highlighting India’s agricultural achievements, Saini said the country is the world’s second-largest producer of fruits and vegetables, with annual horticulture production exceeding 360 million tonnes. He noted that India is among the leading producers of fruits such as mango, banana, guava, and pomegranate, as well as vegetables such as potato and onion.
However, he said significant losses continue due to shortcomings in grading, quality standards, disease free planting material, and post-harvest management. He added that quality seeds and planting material can increase agricultural productivity by 15 to 25 percent and stressed the need for greater focus on scientific cultivation methods and modern supply chains.
The chief minister said challenges such as shrinking landholdings, declining groundwater levels, climate change, and rising cultivation costs have made it difficult for farmers to rely solely on traditional agriculture. In this context, he described crop diversification and horticulture-based farming as the future pathway to farmers’ prosperity.
Saini said the Haryana government has fixed protected prices for 21 horticultural crops under the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana. He added that several welfare schemes have been launched to support horticulture farmers, with a target of doubling the horticulture sector and tripling production by 2030.
The chief minister also praised the progress of Maharana Pratap Horticulture University, whose main campus foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2024. He said the university’s research, training programs and continuous engagement with farmers are contributing significantly to Haryana’s horticulture development.
During the event, Saini honored horticulture scientists and progressive farmers for their contributions to the sector. He also highlighted that the state has established 13 centres of excellence dedicated to horticulture and innovation. The conference was organized by Maharana Pratap Horticulture University, Karnal, in collaboration with the Lieutenant Amit Memorial Foundation.
