Horticulture courses to be offered in schools, colleges

Education Minister Rohit Thakur today announced that horticulture would be introduced as a vocational subject in schools and colleges from the next academic session. He presided over a meeting in Shimla attended by senior officers from the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and the Himachal Pradesh Kaushal Vikas Nigam.

“The integration of horticulture courses from Classes IX to XII, and at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, would encourage children to develop scientific knowledge, practical skills and entrepreneurial aptitude in this vital sector,” he said.

Thakur described horticulture as the backbone of Himachal Pradesh’s economy, contributing significantly through apples, mangoes, citrus fruits and other produce. He said the move would not only prepare students for higher education but also provide employment and entrepreneurial opportunities in fruit cultivation, processing, marketing and allied industries.

The minister directed the Education Department to complete all necessary formalities at the earliest so that the subject could be introduced from the next academic session. He underlined that teaching horticulture in schools would instil in children an appreciation of sustainable agriculture, environmental balance and the state’s rich agrarian traditions.

“With nearly 90 per cent of Himachal’s population residing in rural areas, our children must be prepared to see horticulture not merely as a livelihood but as a modern, profitable and respectable career option,” he emphasised. He added that the inclusion of horticulture in academics would help bridge the gap between classroom learning and practical application.

Thakur said Himachal Pradesh had always been a frontrunner in education, as reflected in the encouraging results of ASER, PARAKH and NAS surveys. He also stressed the need to impart Artificial Intelligence (AI) training to teachers so they were equipped to integrate new technologies into education.