“Pre-positioning VCSGU University of Horticulture and Forestry, Bharsar with desired competitiveness to develop the academic and research environment, required to address the issues of quality teaching and research, and self-employment/job-oriented education” is the vision for the University. To ensure quality education, accreditation of the colleges is the first and foremost priority including rejuvenation of the dormant research and extension centres and the institutes. The orientation of undergraduate and postgraduate students will aim to address farmers’ problems. Likewise, the research programmes shall be targeted at addressing the specific issues of hill agriculture.
Today, hill districts of Uttarakhand are facing a major challenge of out migration of the rural youth in search of the employment. In order to retain the energetic young population in agriculture, promotion of horticulture is one of the viable options. Temperate horticulture and agroforestry land use is the strength of entire Indian Himalayan Region (IHR), which is stretched over 2500 km from J&K in the west to Arunachal Pradesh in the east, covering partially/fully 13 States/UTs including Uttarakhand. Country produces nearly 3.42 million tonnes of temperate fruits and its 94% share is contributed by IHR. However, share of the Uttarakhand to total temperate fruit production is very meagre, i.e., 0.36 million tonnes with average productivity of 3.60 t/ha. Hence, there is a need to improve the productivity through various technological interventions and our target is to double the temperate fruit production in next 5 years. Quality seed and planting material (QPM), varietal interventions/replacements coupled with plant protection measures and natural resource management interventions will be the key areas to promote horticulture in Uttarakhand. Further we need to develop the robust mechanism for achieving self-sufficiency in production of QPM. Indigenous fruit crops like Myrica, Benthamia, Corylus, Berberis, Hippophae, Pyracantha, Physalis, Vitis, wild grape and Coccinea, Carissa, Rosa canina, Ficus spp., Solena amplexicaules, Rubus etc. also need to be integrated into the production systems for resilience, diversification and nutritional security.
Since agriculture in the hills is closely linked with the livestock and forestry, development of location specific cost-effective Integrated Farming System (IFS) models is yet another priority for the University besides integrating livestock components, especially cattle, small ruminant and birds, in agroforestry land use for the benefit of the stakeholders. Being tourist hotspot, agro-ecotourism could be promoted with major emphasis on horticulture including protected cultivation, apiculture, orchid farming, bird rearing, mushroom cultivation and floriculture. Centre of excellence is proposed in the field of high-altitude agriculture, especially the medicinal herbs and shrubs, organic farming and low input sustainable production systems. It is also proposed to create an information hub related to Himalayan Agriculture by involving all the educational and other institutions of IHR.
The agri-food systems of Uttarakhand are not merely a source of calories, but also a powerful determinant of human health, immunity, productivity, and longevity. Efforts are, therefore, critical to generate robust scientific evidence on the role of food diversity, bioactive compounds, functional foods, and animal-origin foods in reducing micronutrient deficiencies and managing Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), finding novel solutions for occupational hazards and managing zoonotic diseases. Moreover, emerging challenges such as antimicrobial resistance, food safety risks, climate change impacts on nutrition, and occupational health in agri-food systems demand “One Health–oriented” interdisciplinary approach. VCSG UUHF will initiate the focussed programme in this direction in collaboration of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and other potential institutions.
Due care will be taken of exchange programme for the faculty members so as to equip them with latest development and technologies available in their respective fields. Linkages are proposed with National Agricultural Research and Education System (NARES), ICIMOD, ICFRE and CGIAR institutions for holistic development of mountain ecosystems. Academic-Industry interface will also be organized to explore the possibilities of setting up small scale industries in the region.