The Maharashtra Cabinet on Tuesday granted permission to the proposal of Government College of Horticulture at Katol in Nagpur district, affiliated with Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV), Akola. The decision was taken at the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The new college aims to cater to the growing horticulture sector across 11 districts in the Nagpur and Amravati divisions, where cultivation of oranges, sweet lime, mango, lemon, guava, as well as low-water crops such as amla and custard apple, has been expanding steadily. The Government said the increasing diversity in fruit, vegetable and floriculture cultivation in Nagpur district has created the need for a dedicated horticulture institution.

 

The college will offer academic programmes in fruit science, vegetable science, floriculture, food processing and value addition, promoting higher education, research and innovation in the sector. The Cabinet also approved creation of 51 regular posts, including 29 teaching and 22 non-teaching positions. In addition, approval has been granted to fill 35 contractual posts as required, comprising five Group A teaching posts, eight Group C, and 22 Group D non-teaching posts. The Government has sanctioned a financial provision of Rs 122.32 crore towards salaries and related expenditure for these posts.