The Horticulture Training Center (HTC) was established in 2002 in Maharashtra, India to provide practical training programs in horticulture. HTC aims to improve farming practices and link Indian agriculture to global markets. It offers short and long-term courses taught using innovative, hands-on methods to provide skills and knowledge on growing, processing, and marketing horticultural crops. HTC is directed by Dr. Sangita Ladha and staffed by experts with experience in protected cultivation and training in horticultural best practices from abroad.
The Horticulture Training Center (HTC) was established in 2002 in Maharashtra, India to provide practical training programs in horticulture. HTC aims to improve farming practices and link Indian agriculture to global markets. It offers short and long-term courses taught using innovative, hands-on methods to provide skills and knowledge on growing, processing, and marketing horticultural crops. HTC is directed by Dr. Sangita Ladha and staffed by experts with experience in protected cultivation and training in horticultural best practices from abroad.
The Horticulture Training Center (HTC) was established in 2002 in Maharashtra, India to provide practical training programs in horticulture. HTC aims to improve farming practices and link Indian agriculture to global markets. It offers short and long-term courses taught using innovative, hands-on methods to provide skills and knowledge on growing, processing, and marketing horticultural crops. HTC is directed by Dr. Sangita Ladha and staffed by experts with experience in protected cultivation and training in horticultural best practices from abroad.
Posted on November 1, 2008 by kavitha in Education
Our vision is to be the best and be an internationally renowned institute in hort iculture management and training by providing the best knowledge and cutting edg e technology with the trend setting courses and teaching techniques, aver Dr. San gita Ladha. Horticulture Training Center (HTC) came into existence in 2002. HTC was set up b y the Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board (MSAMB) in technical and fi nancial collaboration with the Practical Training Center (PTC+), The Netherlands and the Netherlands Development Finance Company (FMO), respectively. HTC was set up to provide customized practical training programs in horticulture , bridging the gap between theory and practice through innovative practical prog rams, and enable Indian agriculture to be more competitive in the global market. The objective was to improve the living standards of the Indian farming communi ty by achieving higher quality yields at a minimal cost of production. Our vision is to be the best and be an internationally renowned institute in hort iculture management and training by providing the best knowledge and cutting edg e technology with the trend setting courses and teaching techniques, aver Dr. Lad ha. Dr Sangita Ladha is the Director of HTC. She is an M-tech (Agril. Engg) from IIT Kharagpur and is also doctorate in Agril. Development (topic: Export Scenario of Floriculture Products from India). Dr. Ladha also underwent advanced technical t raining in the field of protected cultivation at PTC +, The Netherlands and on p ressurized irrigation at CINADCO, Israel. I have worked in marketing of drip and sprinkler irrigation systems with the leading corporate companies such as Jain I rrigation and Finolex Plastro before joining HTC in 2002, she says. HCT is locate d at a distance of 35 km from Pune, in the Talegaon-Dabhade town. Objectives The objectives behind setting up of HTC include the following: Serve as a major demonstration cum training center and offer courses that are practical in nature and intended to train personnel in the areas related with commercial horticultu re and promoting agricultural entrepreneurship. Imparting knowledge and skills in growing, processing and value addition of hort icultural crops that are relevant to the needs of the market. Providing market i ntelligence and quick information dissemination mechanism for farmers, entrepren eurs, extension workers, teachers and students of agricultural universities, far m managers, financial institutes, and skilled labors. Demonstrating advanced hor ticultural technology for the promotion of entrepreneurship in horticulture Providing overall insight in technical aspects of growing tropical and subtropic al horticulture crops. Upgrading managerial and technical skills in major aspect s related to modern crop, water and fertilizer management strategies. Project Cost HTC was set up with a total estimated project cost of Rs.12 crores, of which FMO has given a grant-in-aid to the tune of Rs. 4 crores, with the rest of the proj ect funding from MSAMB and other sources. The PTC+, a leading international trai ning institute, is engaged in operational guidance of the training center, and p roviding technical advice and teaching support. We are elated to mention, that this institute is first of its kind, not only in I ndia, but also in Asia which has started imparting practical training on all asp ects of growing various types of flowers, vegetables and raising of nursery, pla nt propagation under poly-houses and on dry flowers and plant parts, says Dr. Lad ha. A strong in-house faculty, who has also undergone an intense training in The Netherlands, supports the center. We have been conducting training programs for the trainees from 26 different states, she adds. She further informs, HTC has been awarded first prize for the best institute in A gril. Entrepreneurship and for being able to attract trainees from nearly 30 sta tes and neighboring countries like Bhutan, Srilanka and Pakistan by Vasantrao Na ik Agricultural Foundation, Mumbai. Activities of the Center The main activities of the centre involve the following: Imparting practical tra ining in Hi-tech horticulture. Conducting workshops on hi-tech horticulture greenhouse technology all over the country. Providing technical consultancy on all aspects of growing from plantati on to harvesting in case of any cultivation under protected conditions. Undertaking turnkey consultancy for the government and public sector companies. Preparing bankable project reports for any horticulture project and appraising t he same. Propagating quality tissue culture plants which shall showcase advanced horticultural technology for further commercialization. [hidepost] Research Activity The center is involved in exchange and transfer of knowledge in modern hi-tech h orticulture systems by interacting with the industry to create self-sustaining a nd prosperous agricultural community. We are only into applied research and as su ch the institute keeps a track of research and new developments in this sector t aking place at national and international level and extension of the same is don e by organizing workshops and seminars by also inviting experts in the field fro m abroad, maintains Dr. Ladha. Training HTC is imparting practical training and providing expert counsel, innovative ide as and cost reduction techniques in all subjects from crop production to marketi ng of produce, with a training concept of Learning by Doing in protected and open- field cultivation of flowers, vegetables, and fruits. The trainees have free han d at all the latest machinery and equipment allowing them to experiment with pla nts. Our top priority is Total Experience for the Trainees, avers Dr. Ladha. The trainings are imparted in small groups at our in-house ultra modern facility with trainees essentially working in the farm/greenhouses. The experts and train ees together form a strong network of knowledge, where not just transfer of know ledge takes place, but new knowledge is developed, she adds. HTC is offering one/two-day, one-week and one-month training programs throughout the year, specifically designed to suit the needs of the farmers, entrepreneurs , extension workers, teachers and students of agricultural universities, farm ma nagers, financial institutions and skilled labors. To enroll one self for these t raining programs there is no educational prerequisite, which makes our programs readily accessible to the literate as well as the illiterate farming community o f the nation, says Dr. Ladha. Practical Training Program HTC offers practical and focused training on Hi-tech Horticulture Greenhouse Tec hnology. The capital investment for setting up of projects for growing of flowers and vegetables under protected conditions needs high capital investment. It is therefore essential for an entrepreneur who are mainly farmers to have a complet e techno-commercial information before venturing in this sector, says Dr. Ladha. Courses Offered The one week (5 days) residential practical training courses offered at the cent er are the following: General Greenhouse Management Automation in Protected Cult ivation Cultivation of Flowers, Fillers and Greens Plant Propagation and Nursery Management Specialized Courses on following crops: Rose Cultivation Gerbera and Carnation Cultivation Orchid and Anthurium Cultivation Capsicum and Tomato Cult ivation Marketing of Horticulture Produce. Organic Farming Tissue Culture New Long Term Courses HTC is starting with MBA in Agril. Marketing from June 2009. Again this is going to be very unique as the course shall be developed in collaboration with interna tional institutes with complete focus on value chain management and on national and international trading and markets for agricultural produce, maintains Dr. Lad ha. Faculty The faculty at HTC consists of techno-commercial professionals having practical experience in the field of protected cultivation and has undergone training in t he Netherlands in various fields of horticulture. We believe that imparting train ing can only be made possible if cemented by the best practices, faculty, and in frastructure, maintains Dr. Ladha. Two long-term Dutch experts also form a part o f this team and are present at the center providing value addition to the Indian faculty. Our Correspondent Dr.Sangita Ladha, Director Horticulture Training Center S. N. 398-400, Next to CRPF Campus, Pune-Mumbai Highway, Talegaon Dabhade,Tal. Maval, Dist. Pune 410 506. (M.S.) India Telefax : + 91 02114 223980,226087 E-mail : info@htcindia.org Web : http://www.htcindia.org [/hidepost]