The Haryana government today said it will set up a world class horticulture university at Karnal district.
Besides, its three regional centres will be set up in Jhajjar, Jind and Naraingarh.
An approval in this regard was given by Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.
Stating this here today, an official spokesman said global expression of interest will be invited to have world's best standards for preparation of detailed project report for finalisation of departments and technologies for the proposed university.
The state government would seek a budget of Rs 50 crore from the central government as grant-in-aid to set up the university and its three regional centres.
According to a proposal submitted by CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, the University will spread over an area of 700 acres and during its first year, it would cost Rs 206 crore.
The central government had, in Budget 2014, announced the setting up of one horticulture university in Haryana and one in Telangana with provision of Rs 50 crore for each.
The Centre had sent a written communication dated July 15, 2014 to the state government to identify 400 to 500 hectares of land for action at the level of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
However, this will be a state horticulture university which has been clarified by the central government in its letter dated December 18, 2014.
There is neither any central deemed university nor any institute related to horticulture in Haryana.
Also, there is no college or university dedicated to horticulture in the state, he said.
The state Horticulture Department shall act as a nodal department to set up the Horticulture University.
To begin with, the Horticulture Training Institute located at Uchani in Karnal district and regional station of Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar would be used temporarily for starting the university.
The Horticulture Training Institute belongs to state Horticulture Department.
Development of horticulture expertise shall be one of the main mandates for the university. To meet technical manpower required for horticulture industry of the state, a system of education shall be drawn, he said.
There would be certificate and diploma courses to impart skill to youth. There is also a plan to have field experiments of M.Sc. And Ph.D. Students work in farmers' fields rather than in the plots of the department alone.
