Karnal, July 9: Prof. Suresh Malhotra, the Vice-Chancellor of Maharana Pratap Horticultural University (MHU), Karnal, was honored with the 'Agriculture Award-2026' by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday. He received this award in recognition of his achievements in the field of horticulture and the positive changes brought about in farmers' lives through his world-class research. Receiving the award from Union Minister Rajnath Singh is a matter of pride for the state and the entire university community.
The 17th Agriculture Leadership Conclave was held at The Oberoi Hotel in New Delhi, where the MHU Vice-Chancellor participated as a distinguished guest. The event focused on the theme 'Feeding the Future'.
Union Ministers and state ministers participated in the event. It is a source of great pride for the MHU family that their Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Suresh Malhotra, shared the stage with eminent scientists from across the country and delivered a comprehensive address on addressing food and nutritional security challenges.
Addressing renowned scientists from around the world, the Vice-Chancellor offered significant suggestions for solving future food-related challenges and provided factual responses to their queries. Expressing happiness upon receiving the award, Prof. Suresh Malhotra noted that scientists across the country and the state are conducting innovative research, which has ensured that the nation's food grain reserves remain well-stocked.
However, given the rising population, scientists are concerned about ensuring that people have access to nutritious food—specifically, food rich in all essential nutrients. Furthermore, there is a need for farmers to adopt agricultural practices that minimize the impact on natural resources and are environmentally friendly.
It is the vision of both the Central and State governments to expand the area under horticultural cultivation and encourage farmers to increasingly grow fruits, flowers, vegetables, spices, and mushrooms. Additionally, the aim is for farmers to adopt cultivation methods that require negligible amounts of pesticides, urea, and chemical fertilizers. To achieve this, farmers will need to adopt new techniques being developed by agricultural and horticultural scientists—innovations that will prove beneficial not only to the farmers themselves but also to the national interest. This award was conferred upon the Horticultural University, Karnal, in recognition of its excellence in higher education and new research within the field of horticulture.