State partners with Birmingham varsity to set up horticulture centre

In a pioneering move towards enhancing horticultural practices, the Haryana Government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the University of Birmingham to establish the first-of-its-kind Haryana-UK Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Crop Post-Harvest Management and Cold Chain for horticulture crops.

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The centre, located in Panchkula, aims to significantly reduce post-harvest losses while maintaining the quality and freshness of produce from farm to consumer.

The MoU was signed in the presence of CM Nayab Singh Saini and Haryana Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shyam Singh Rana.

On behalf of the government, the MoU was signed by Additional Chief Secretary Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department Raja Shekhar Vundru, while Prof Robin Mason, Pro-Vice Chancellor (International), University of Birmingham, signed on behalf of the university.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Saini said Haryana, being the food bowl of India, was rapidly diversifying into fresh fruits and vegetables. The expansion called for the effective management of the cold chain to minimise post-harvest losses in the sector. He further said the centre would play a crucial role in ensuring quality, reducing wastage, and supporting the agricultural community.

The centre will serve as a comprehensive research and testing hub under one roof, dedicated to improving the post-harvest management of fruits and vegetables. It will also provide vital research and testing services for students and researchers from CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, and Maharana Pratap Horticulture University, Karnal, allowing them to undertake studies and experiments in the fields of post-harvest management and cold chain technology.