Centre of excellence for Horticulture to be set up at Attari

In a bid to supplement farmers income in border areas through cultivation of fruits under the crop diversification programme, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today announced the decision to set up a state-of-the art 'National Centre of Excellence for Horticulture' in this border district town.
The Chief Minister visited the Government Garden and nursery here and had detailed deliberations with the officers regarding the setting up of this centre, an official spokesman said.
Badal said this centre could act as a game changer for the farmers by enhancing their income considerably through the cultivation of fruits and vegetables.
He asked the officers to ensure that this centre is equipped with hi-end technologies so that extensive research could be carried out for producing high yielding varieties of fruits and vegetables.

The Chief Minister said this Centre of excellence must have high tech poly-house for vegetable nursery and a high tech nursery for fruits including citrus to help farmers to maximise their profit.
Badal asked the officers of Horticulture department to encourage the farmers for cultivating the fruits and vegetables that were best suited for the climate of the region.

He said that the cultivation of fruits like Peer, Peach and Guava that could give high yield in the region could transform the destiny of the farmers of this region by enhancing their income manifolds.
He said the land for this nursery, which had proximity to the border, must also be aptly utilised by constructing a National Museum for Horticulture on the pattern of one constructed in Odisha.

He said that this museum must depict the techniques of Horticulture adopted across the country through live and monumental presentations, so that people coming to visit the border could be attracted towards it.
"Apart from developing this site as a harbinger of horticulture revolution in the state, efforts must also be made to develop it as a favorite recreational spot for the tourist," Badal added.