Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Thursday, 28 May 2026 addressed a national conference on horticulture held at the campus of the ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute (CSSRI) in Karnal, bringing together scientists, researchers, and agricultural experts from across the country.

Context

Posting on X, CM Saini wrote — 'aaj Karnal mein CSSRI ke parisar mein aayojit bagwani se sambandhit rashtriya sammelan mein desh ke kone-kone se aaye vaigyanikon, shodhakartaon aur krishi visheshagyon ko sambodhit kiya' — ['Today I addressed scientists, researchers and agricultural experts who had come from every corner of the country at a national conference on horticulture held at the CSSRI campus in Karnal.']. He described the gathering as an important platform to give a new direction to the future of agriculture and horticulture in India.

The post also references the Maharana Pratap Bagwani initiative, though the full details of the scheme were truncated in the original post. The conference brought together domain specialists under one roof to deliberate on the sector's future.

Policy Backdrop

India's focus on horticulture as a driver of farmer income dates to the National Horticulture Mission, launched in 2005-06, which sought integrated development of fruit, vegetable, spice, and flower cultivation across the country. Successive central and state governments have built on that foundation, linking horticulture expansion to soil-health improvement and income diversification for farming households.

CSSRI Karnal, an institute under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), specialises in soil and water management, particularly addressing salinity challenges that affect large tracts of north-western India. Its research directly supports the expansion of horticulture in regions where conventional crops struggle.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary beneficiaries of outcomes from such a conference are horticulture farmers across Haryana and neighbouring states, who stand to gain from improved varieties, salinity-tolerant cultivation techniques, and better post-harvest management protocols emerging from research deliberations. Agricultural scientists and extension workers are equally key stakeholders, as conference recommendations shape future research priorities and funding.

For Haryana specifically, horticulture diversification offers a pathway to reduce dependence on the water-intensive paddy-wheat cycle that has placed stress on the state's groundwater table. A high-level political presence at such forums signals state government commitment to translating research into on-ground policy.

What's Next

Observers will watch for follow-up state budget allocations or new horticulture scheme announcements by the Haryana government in the weeks after the conference. Details of the Maharana Pratap Bagwani initiative referenced by CM Saini are expected to be elaborated through official government communications. The recommendations of the assembled scientists and experts could also feed into state and central horticulture policy revisions ahead of the next crop season.