In a bid to boost the Horticulture sector in Punjab, the Horticulture Minister Rana Gurjit Singh accompanied by Lok Sabha MP from Amritsar Gurjeet Singh Aujla, called upon the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar at Krishi Bhawan here.Urging the Union Minister to direct the Secretary, Department of Agriculture Research and Education (DARE) for fast tracking the start of a temporary campus of Post Graduate Institute of Horticulture Research and Education (PGIHRE) from building of State Forest Research Institute (SFRI), Ladhowal, Rana Gurjit Singh apprised the Union Minister that the Department of Horticulture, Punjab had already written twice to the Secretary, DARE-ICAR (Indian Council for Agricultural Research) concerned in this regard on May 24 and May 27, 2021.The State Horticulture Minister further pointed out that in pursuance of announcement by the Government of India to set up a Post Graduate Institute of Horticulture Research and Education (PGIHRE) at Amritsar in Union Budget 2015-16, the State Government transferred 100 acres of land located at Attari, Amritsar and 50 acres of land located at Abohar, District Fazilka to the Department of Agriculture Researchand Education (DARE) and ICAR Government of India for Research purpose.
Besides, for the establishment of Administrative Block at village Chiddan,Tehsil Ajnala, District Amritsar, the acquisition of land identified with the consent of DARE-ICAR is under way by the State Government.Likewise, the State Horticulture Minister also sought the sanction of 5 New Horticulture Estates in Faridkot, Ludhiana, Patiala, Bathinda and Gurdaspur, in the Budget 2021-22 and a budget provision of Rs. 80 Crore (@ Rs. 16 crore per Horticulture Estate) to be made in the financial year 2021-22.It may be recalled that five citrus estates already running successfully in the State as per natural growing area of this crop. At present these States are converted into horticulture estates so that all farmers pertaining to this area can get all facilities and technical know-how regarding crops being grown in these Estates. Based on these estates, the State Government proposes to establish 25 Horticulture Estates in the state in the next five years (5 Estates per year), with every district having one such Estate, apart from Crop specific Horticulture Estates to facilitate the farmers under one roof.