AGRI VARSITY TO HAVE CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE

Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Friday announced the setting up of a centre of excellence (CoE) in the Prof Jayashankar Telangana State Agriculture University on the city outskirts, and allotted it 300 acres on the campus.

The decision came during a review meeting that the Chief MInister chaired on drafting a horticulture policy with senior officials at Pragathi Bhavan on Friday.

The Chief Minister said that there was a need to do more research to expand the cultivation of horticulture crops and introduce modern methods in horticulture farming and the CoE would be helpful in achieving this goal.

He directed officials to draft the horticulture policy keeping in mind the needs and weather conditions. He stressed the need for strengthening agriculture university for the purpose.

Rao assured that he would sanction more funds to the agriculture university in the upcoming Budget. He instructed officials to take steps to increase seats in agriculture polytechnic college in Vantimamidi and Ramagiri Killa.

The Chief Minister said that areas around municipal corporations and municipalities should be identified to take up cultivation of horticulture and vegetable crops and ensure that urban areas should no longer depend on imports from other states for vegetables and flowers.

The horticulture department is headed by one commissioner. The CM said the government will soon appoint three more commissioners to take care of fruits, vegetables and palm oil cultivation.

THE CHIEF Minister assured that he would sanction more funds to the agriculture university in the upcoming Budget. He instructed officials to take steps to increase seats in agriculture polytechnic college in Vantimamidi and Ramagiri Killa.