RAJASTHAN GOVT ENTRUSTS TANTIA GROUP WITH ESTABLISHING A ‘CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE’ FOR KINNOW

Raj Sadosh/Abohar.

Rajasthan Govt-led by CM Bhajan Lal Sharma- has entrusted the Tantia Group with the responsibility of establishing a ‘Centre of Excellence’ (CoE) for Kinnow in Sriganganagar. Research will be conducted to enhance both the quality and quantity of the fruit, and farmers will receive training. This CoE will serve as a knowledge hub for agriculture students and stand as a model for post-harvesting mechanisms. This initiative by the state government is set to usher in a golden era for the region’s Kinnow produce, thereby revitalizing the fortunes of both growers and traders.

Dr. Mohit Tantia, Vice Chairperson of Tantia University, notes that the sweetness and unique characteristics of their Kinnow set it apart from all other fruits. Despite this, the fruit has historically failed to command a fair price or access the right markets—factors that have directly impacted farmers’ incomes and the morale of traders. By assigning the Tantia Group the task of creating a ‘Centre for Promotion of Kinnow’ (Centre of Excellence), the government has taken a significant step forward. It is worth noting that Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari had announced the establishment of three new CoEs in the state budget, including the one for Kinnow in Sriganganagar.

To formalize the establishment of the Kinnow CoE in Sriganganagar, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed recently between the state government—represented by Horticulture Commissioner Shweta Chauhan IAS—and the Tantia Group, represented by General Manager Dr. Vikas Sachdeva. This marks the first time in the country that a private university has been entrusted with the responsibility of setting up such a CoE. The proposed center is being funded through grants from the Narendra Modi led government’s ambitious “Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana” and has benefited from the special guidance of Joint Director (Horticulture) Himmat Singh Shekhawat, along with Deputy Directors Govind Srivastava and Preeti Garg.