New Delhi, Jan 29: Linking agricultural exports with global trade opportunities, Rajya Sabha MP Satnam Singh Sandhu on Thursday urged the Centre to upgrade the stalled Post Graduate Institute of Horticulture Research and Education (PGIHRE) in Amritsar into a Central Horticultural University.
Speaking during Zero Hour in Parliament, Sandhu said the proposed university would be critical in helping Punjab’s farmers meet international quality norms, especially in light of India’s expanding trade agreements.
“With new free trade agreements opening doors for agri-exports, this university can ensure that Punjab’s horticulture products meet European and global standards,” Sandhu said. “International testing labs and certification facilities will allow farmers to export directly instead of relying on intermediaries.”
Sandhu referred to the recent free trade agreement signed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling it a major opportunity for Indian agriculture. “In this changing trade environment, Punjab must be institutionally prepared to compete,” he said.
The MP said PGIHRE was approved in the 2015–16 Union Budget with an investment of nearly Rs 2,000 crore and was envisioned as a centrally funded institute spread over 130 acres. However, construction has not begun due to prolonged land acquisition delays.
He said while 100 acres were identified at Attari village in Amritsar, an additional 29–30 acres required for academic, administrative and residential facilities faced legal and procedural hurdles. “The notification for acquiring this land came in 2022, and the formal notice was issued only in March 2023. Until then, the project remained frozen,” Sandhu said.
Due to the non-availability of land, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research did not allocate funds for the institute between 2021–22 and 2025–26, further delaying the project.
Calling the issue crucial for Punjab’s farming community, Sandhu said the original objective of PGIHRE was to move farmers away from the wheat-paddy cycle. “This institution was meant to lead a shift toward high-value crops, improve farmer incomes and create new opportunities in food processing and agri-business,” he said.
He added that upgrading PGIHRE into a Central Horticultural University would give the project renewed momentum. “Punjab’s farmers are already adopting horticulture. What they need now is a strong academic and research backbone to support innovation, exports and sustainability,” Sandhu said.
If established, the university is expected to focus on advanced research in horticulture crops, development of improved fruit varieties such as mango, citrus and litchi, postgraduate education and training, and large-scale technology transfer to farmers and agro-industries.
