India’s Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is boosting the horticulture sector through its Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH). The program strongly backs Centres of Excellence (CoEs) for fruits and vegetables, according to a statement from Gujarat’s Chief Minister’s Office.
Nationwide, the government has greenlit 58 such CoEs across various states, with Gujarat hosting four of them. These centers come from partnerships with countries like Israel, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. They also get technical help from Indian bodies, such as the Indian Council of Agricultural Research in Delhi.
CoEs act as key hubs where farmers learn the latest horticulture technologies through demos, training, and hands-on sessions. They build skills, supply high-quality planting materials, and help growers switch to modern methods. By linking research labs to real farms, these centers drive up productivity, improve crop quality, and promote sustainable farming in the fruits and vegetables industry.
Innovation thrives here, fostering self-reliance and economic growth for rural communities. Farmers, entrepreneurs, and extension workers get practical training on advanced practices, turning CoEs into game-changers for India’s horticulture landscape.
In North Gujarat, two CoEs focus on applied research, standardizing crops, and speeding up tech adoption. They offer expert advice and produce top-notch planting materials to boost yields.
Take the Centre of Excellence for Protected Cultivation and Precision Farming on Vegetables in Vadrad, Sabarkantha. Since launching in 2015, it has generated over 14 million vegetable seedlings, helping farmers adopt better varieties on a large scale. Each year, it runs 18 frontline demonstrations to highlight cutting-edge techniques. Plus, its training programs and exposure visits have reached more than 113,455 farmers and officials.
Visitors get up-close looks at innovative methods during these trips. The center also hosts residential trainings, workshops, and Training of Trainers sessions, making it a go-to spot for tech transfer and skill-building in horticulture. It emphasizes mass production of seedlings with germination rates as high as 90%, ensuring farmers see real results.
Meanwhile, the Centre of Excellence for Vegetables and Citrus in Visnagar, Mehsana district, boasts state-of-the-art setups. This includes two net houses covering 1,800 square meters, four poly tunnels over another 1,800 square meters, and a 1,100-square-meter fan-pad poly house for precise crop control. Staff here test new lemon varieties adapted to local weather, grow disease-free seedlings, and demo tools like drip irrigation, fertigation, and protected cultivation.
To empower farmers, the center runs trainings on everything from citrus production and nutrient management to pruning, nursery care, pest control, and organic farming. It even offers specialized sessions for landless laborers, opening doors to better livelihoods and practical know-how.
Looking ahead, the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference in North Gujarat’s Mehsana district on October 9-10 will spotlight horticulture progress and connect farmers and entrepreneurs. These CoEs keep pushing boundaries, helping farmers thrive and building a stronger, self-reliant agriculture future.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
