Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, inaugurated nine development projects worth more than ₹75 crore in Jhajjar, including a Centre of Excellence for Floriculture and Seed Production Technology, dedicating them to the people of the state. The event was held on the birth anniversary of Maharana Pratap, the 16th-century Rajput warrior-king revered across India for his valour.

Context

Saini described the occasion as 'atyanth preranadayak aur aitihasik' (extremely inspiring and historic), noting that the programme was organised to mark Maharana Pratap Jayanti. The nine projects were inaugurated under the banner of Maharana Pratap Udyan Vishwavidyalaya, a Haryana institution dedicated to horticulture education and research that bears the historical figure's name. Combining infrastructure launches with cultural commemoration is an established practice in Haryana's public-engagement calendar.

Policy Backdrop

The centrepiece of the inauguration is the Modern Horticulture Research Centre at Raiya, which Saini said will serve as 'a vital centre of knowledge, innovation, and technology for farmers across all of Haryana.' The state has been pursuing agricultural diversification since the mid-2010s, systematically pushing high-value horticulture and protected cultivation as alternatives to the traditional wheat-paddy cycle. Post-2021 natural farming and organic horticulture missions, aligned with central government guidelines, have given fresh momentum to this shift.

The Centre of Excellence for Floriculture and Seed Production Technology in Jhajjar fits directly into this trajectory, targeting a segment — floriculture and certified seed production — that commands premium market prices and can meaningfully raise farm incomes in the region.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary beneficiaries are horticulture growers and farmers across Haryana, particularly those in southern Haryana districts such as Jhajjar that have historically lagged in access to agricultural extension services. Saini stated that the projects mark 'a new chapter in agriculture and horticulture development, along with education and public amenities' in the area. The research centre at Raiya is expected to function as a knowledge hub, providing technical guidance and innovation support that small and marginal farmers currently struggle to access.

The government framed the inaugurations as part of a continuous commitment to 'innovation in agriculture, natural farming, and expansion of horticulture,' signalling that further investments in this sector are likely.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to the roll-out timelines for all nine projects and the pace at which the new research infrastructure becomes operationally accessible to farmers. Adoption metrics — how many growers engage with the Raiya centre's extension services in its first year — will be an early indicator of whether the investment translates into on-ground impact. The state's ability to staff and sustain these facilities will be as consequential as the inauguration itself.