Maharashtra approves Government College of Horticulture in Katol, Nagpur; offers 120 seats

The Maharashtra Cabinet has approved the establishment of a government college of horticulture at Katol, Nagpur district. The new institute will be affiliated with Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV), Akola. The government college of horticulture will offer admission to 120 students every year.

According to the Maharashtra government's Cabinet decisions, the college is expected to benefit students from 11 districts in the Vidarbha region by expanding access to horticulture education and research.

College to support growing horticulture

The government said the demand for a horticulture college has increased as the cultivation of fruits such as oranges, sweet limes (mosambi), mangoes, lemons and guavas, along with drought-resistant crops including amla and custard apples, has been expanding across the Nagpur and Amravati divisions.

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The college will offer academic programmes in fruit science, vegetable science, floriculture, food processing and value addition. The government said the institution is expected to strengthen education, research and skill development in horticulture and allied sectors.

Cabinet sanctions 51 regular posts

To support the functioning of the new college, the Cabinet has approved 51 regular posts, including 29 teaching and 22 non-teaching positions. In addition, the government has permitted the recruitment of five Group A teaching posts, eight Group C posts and 22 Group D posts on a contractual basis as required.

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The Maharashtra government has also approved a financial provision of Rs 122.32 crore towards salaries and other related expenditure for these posts.

The government said the institution will play a key role in developing skilled human resources and promoting research to support the horticulture sector in Vidarbha.