College of Horticulture & Forestry Neri

From VC's Desk

It is widely acknowledged that education contributes significantly to the economic development of a nation. In India, the scientists and the science based technological inputs have been the major drivers of economic development especially, economic growth in agriculture, horticulture, forestry and other allied sectors since the times of green revolution. Self reliance in food security with reasonable degree of resilience besides foreseeing the sustainability issues of natural resources are to the credit of farm education and research. However, with the dawn of 21st century agricultural education and research especially in disciplines of horticulture, forestry and biotechnology are facing several challenges, particularly the sustenance and optimal harnessing of natural resources in view of global climate change, competing land uses, factor productivity, global trade and IPR regime vis-à-vis quality human resource. Our understanding of their impact on humans and other bio-physical resources based on current state of knowledge is inadequate and needs colossal effort both at policy and implementation levels, the professionally competent human resource being at the forefront. In order to be globally competent, it is essential that target human resource is capable to understand and assimilate such impacts as well as prioritize, formulate and implement improvement programmes to further the science of horticulture, forestry and environment.

Increasing number of eligible youth aspiring for higher professional education, emerging needs to develop technological innovations in horticulture, forestry and other allied sectors, besides meeting the national goal of enhancing access to and enrolment of students in the professional education by 2030, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry established its 3rd constituent college, named “College of Horticulture and Forestry at Neri” on August 27, 2014. This has its roots in the erstwhile Institute of Biotechnology and Environmental Science.

From Dean's Desk

Himachal Pradesh with diverse agro-climatic zones from temperate to subtropical, and high altitude cold deserts has a vast potential for cultivation of a wide range of agricultural, horticultural and forestry crops. For improving production and productivity of these crops, the university is actively engaged in human resource development, and generation of eco-region specific technologies for ensuring remunerative returns to the farming community. To promote horticulture, biotechnology and forestry in the subtropical areas of Himachal Pradesh, the college of Horticulture and Forestry, Neri, Hamirpur was established as the third constituent college of the University with the mandate of imparting quality undergraduate and postgraduate teaching along with improvement in research facilities for meeting the demands of growing population for safe and nutritionally rich food under the changing climatic scenario.

Since the start of this college in 2011, as many as 597 students in B.Sc. (Hons) Horticulture, B.Sc. (Hons) Forestry and B.Sc. (Hons) Biotechnology have been enrolled. Till date,  234 students have passed out under the horticulture and biotechnology streams and as many as 47 students have qualified JRF in the Academic Sessions 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17. The students of this college also qualified and got admissions in reputed institutions for higher learning like State McGill University Canada, IIT Mumbai, BHU Varanasi, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, GKVK Bengaluru, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology Udaipur and Assam Agriculture University, Jorhat.

The College of Horticulture and Forestry Neri has strength of 35 faculty members engaged in teaching, research and extension education activities. Need based guest faculty is also angaged in each semester for teaching specific courses. The college has adopted IV Deans’ committee recommendations of ICAR in letter and spirits for B.Sc. (Hons) Horticulture, B.Sc. (Hons) Biotechnology   and B.Sc. (Hons) Forestry.  As per V Deans’ committee recommendations, the nomenclature of B.Sc. (Hons) Biotechnology course has been changed to B.Tech. Biotechnology. For strengthening PG teaching and research, 13 new departments viz. Fruit Science, Vegetable Science, Floriculture & Landscape Architecture, Food Science & Technology, Entomology, Plant Pathology, Biotechnology, Silviculture & Agro-forestry, Tree Improvement & Genetic Resources, Forest Products, Soil Science, Social Science and Basic Science have been restructured.

Commercial Horticulture and Mushroom Cultivation and two new Experiential Learning modules in Bee keeping and processing of fruits and vegetables for value addition have been introduced from academic session 2017-18 for B.Sc. (Hons) Horticulture. Under B.Sc. (Hons) Forestry degree programme three Experiential Learning Programmes in Production and Marketing of high value forest produce, Raising quality planting material and Apiculture / sericulture have been introduced. For B Tech. Biotechnology students, plant Biotechnology has been introduced as ELP module. The students of this college have also excelled in sports and co-curricular activities by representing the country in Asian Winter Games, Japan, and World Kickboxing Championship, Scotland (UK).

Thus, College of Horticulture and Forestry at Neri envisioning the needs of mountain horticulture, forestry and allied sciences to its inhabitants and the emerging young India, dedicates itself to the nation with a clear vision and objectives.