UP's first Center of Excellence will be established in Barabanki district, utilising Indo-Dutch technology, with support from the Netherlands. This follows the earlier establishment of similar centers in Kannauj, Chandauli, and Basti, which employed Indo-Israel technology.
The new laboratory will be set up in Sonikpur village in Trivediganj, with a work plan prepared for a budget of approximately Rs 12 crores. The process of transferring the land to the Horticulture Department has already begun.
The Indian government has entered into an agreement with the Netherlands to bring significant improvements to the horticulture and agriculture sectors. Initially, land in Tirgaon was considered for the center, but it was eventually deemed unsuitable, leading to the selection of land in Sonikpur.
Spanning about three hectares, the new Center of Excellence will be developed with assistance from the Netherlands. On April 5, senior Dutch scientist Joop van Balen, along with a government and district administration team, visited the site to assess the project.
District Horticulture Officer Dr Dhirendra Kumar Singh confirmed that the land has been thoroughly inspected, and factors like soil, water, climate, and export potential have been evaluated. High-yield crops such as tomatoes, colored capsicum, cucumbers, and various flowers will be cultivated.
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Farmers will be trained on methods to enhance production, while agriculture and horticulture officers will receive specialised training. The center will also focus on growing nurseries for off-season vegetables, with plans to produce around one crore plants at a time, to be distributed across the state. The facility will serve as a research hub, marking the first of its kind in Uttar Pradesh.
The Center of Excellence will primarily benefit districts including Barabanki, Ayodhya, Bahraich, Shravasti, Balrampur, Gonda, Rae Bareli, Amethi, Sultanpur, Lucknow, Hardoi, and Sitapur, but it will provide advantages to farmers across the entire state.