I am happy that Institute of Horticulture Technology has been established with the main emphasis on development of trained human resource in modern horticultural production and postharvest technologies. I am glad to see a very elaborate infrastructure created by the institute along with a competent faculty. The plant factory, where round the year production of leafy vegetables, herbs and other crops is being taken through hydroponic technology, is very relevant in today’s and tomorrow’s context in the urban and peri-urban areas especially in the of era of climate change. The institute has done tremendously well by developing commercial production module, the advantage of which is being enjoyed by almost all the states and union territories in the country as can be evinced by the trained manpower of over 58,000 farmers, extension officials, students and entrepreneurs created through trainings in modern horticultural production technologies.

The Institute has in house R & D facility which is recognized by Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India. Besides, the institute is empanelled by the Department of Horticulture & Food Processing, Government of Uttar Pradesh for trainings in Horticulture Sector. For trainings in post-harvest technologies, IHT has collaboration with National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management-NIFTEM, Sonepat, Haryana.

The Institute also has collaboration with Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu for providing Diploma in specialized fields in Horticulture.

The Institute is further empowered with well-equipped satellite campus established at Mandira, District Kamrup, Assam for carrying out innovative research and imparting training to the trainers and farmers of North-East region vis a vis making available quality planting material to the end users.

The institute has its unique identity and created benchmark globally in the field of Horticultural Technology particularly protected cultivation of horticultural crops by standardizing varieties for poly houses and hydroponic conditions. We have highly qualified team of professionals & experienced faculty in all gamut of Hort-agriculture and Social Sciences for carrying out innovative research and imparting trainer’s   trainings to national and international enthusiasts & professionals as well as entrepreneurs.

The Institute is committed to develop future generation scientists, professionals, entrepreneurs yearning for global competitive excellence by giving wings to their dreams by offering educational excellence and innovative research environment. The institute has academic collaborations with world’s best academic and research institutions for exposure of its students and scientists to advances in Horticulture Technologies. Besides, a number of national and international conferences, seminars, workshops, training programmes, exhibitions etc. are organized by the Institute to provide opportunity to young minds to get aquatinted with the new developments in the subject.

Recently, the Government has focused on Horticulture Cluster Development Programme (HCDP) in 12 districts in the country. The farmers will be benefitted, from this, through creation of cluster-specific brands to link them into domestic and global value chains, bringing them higher remunerations. Also the small and marginal farmers will have better access to market vis a vis quality planting material of recommended varieties for enhancing production and productivity. Cluster Development Programme will give boost to rural sector as it will help in creating local jobs, prevent rural exodus and promote rural tourism.

The Horticulture Cluster Development Programme has a huge potential to transform the entire horticulture ecosystem. It can improve its global competitiveness by building last-mile connectivity with the use of multimodal transport for the efficient and timely evacuation and transport of horticulture produce. It can also be a vehicle for the implementation of production requirements to get quality produce as per requirement of international markets.

For reaping benefit of any Government programme or self-entrepreneurship in Horticulture, growers need to be well aware of the recent technological interventions and/or advancements. This is possible only through hands on trainings at periodical intervals. IHT is premier institution empanelled by central and state Governments for Hi-Tech Trainings in Horticulture under different schemes.

Since the institute is poised for further technological improvisation and implementation, therefore I am confident that it will reach greater heights in trained human resource development and technological advancements attracting, thereby, young minds from the world over. IHT has bright future ahead and I wish all success in its future endeavours.