BANGALORE: The coalition Government's move to set up an independent horticultural university in the State with headquarters in Bagalkot has suffered a setback with some former vice-chancellors of agricultural university expressing serious reservations and demanding that the proposal be shelved.

R. Dwarakinath, S. Bisaliah, M.N. Sheelavantar of UAS, Bangalore, and M. Mahadevappa of UAS, Dharwad, and members of the Institution of Agricultural Technologists on Sunday held a meeting on "Separate Horticulture University in the State" and decided to petition Governor T.N. Chaturvedi opposing the establishment of the horticultural university. They urged the Government to strengthen the horticulture departments in universities by allocating more funds.

The Government had appointed V.P. Baligar, Principal Secretary (Infrastructure Development) as Special Officer of Horticultural University recently. A sum of Rs. 10 crore has been allocated for the purpose.

Addressing presspersons after the meeting, Prof. Dwarakinath said instead of spending crores of rupees on infrastructure for the university, the Government should set up more horticulture colleges.

The horticulture departments need to be revamped to address the current problems in the sector. "The establishment of a new varsity is not a child's play," he said.

The State has excellent potential for promoting horticulture. Opening more colleges and upgrading the extension services in universities could help in tapping the potential.

There would be duplication of research and the financial burden on the Government would increase by setting up a separate horticultural varsity, he said.

Prof. Bisaliah said the Government should have constituted an expert committee to study the feasibility of setting up a horticultural university. Instead of the university, the Government should strengthen the Directorate of Horticulture and adopt a focussed approach to tap the resources in the sector.

The former vice-chancellors also demanded that the Government give more focus on upgrading post-harvest technology in the sector. The Horticulture Department did not respond to the needs of farmers and there was no proper marketing facility for the produce, they said.

Officials of the Agriculture Department and retired professors of horticulture and members of IAT attended the meeting.

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