Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla presided over the 14th Convocation of Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, held today in Solan. During the ceremony, he awarded 12 gold medals—nine of them to girl students—along with 518 merit certificates and 855 degrees in horticulture and forestry.
Congratulating the graduating students and their families, the Governor said the convocation not only celebrates academic accomplishments but also reinforces a sense of responsibility towards farmers, horticulturalists, and society at large. He praised the university’s efforts in promoting high-value crops such as dragon fruit, avocado, blueberry, macadamia nut, and coffee, and appreciated its initiatives to advance natural farming practices aimed at reducing chemical use.
Governor Shukla commended the university for its strong research output, numerous publications, awards, and extensive outreach activities. He acknowledged its national recognition in medicinal plant research, bio-control, and allied scientific fields, and applauded the exceptional performance of students, especially girl scholars.
Drawing attention to his statewide anti-drug campaign, the Governor urged the youth to actively contribute to building a drug-free society. He encouraged the graduates to uphold ethics, compassion, and public service while working towards the economic betterment of farming communities.
Addressing the gathering as the special guest, Dr. Sanjay Kumar, Chairman of the Agricultural Scientist Selection Board, highlighted the critical role of horticulture in enhancing rural livelihoods. He also praised the university’s outreach through Krishi Vigyan Kendras and research stations, citing programmes such as the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), National Horticulture Mission (NHM), and the BioE3 policy.
Vice-Chancellor Dr. Rajeshwar Chandel welcomed the Governor and presented the university’s annual report. He announced that the university secured the 20th position among agricultural universities in the NIRF 2025 rankings and ranked 11th in the Agriculture & Horticulture category under the IIRF. He further shared that 3,766 extension activities benefited over 89,000 farmers, while 494 training programs supported more than 17,000 participants.
During the ceremony, the Governor also released several university publications. Registrar Sidharth Acharya delivered the vote of thanks.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
