In today’s scenario, the year 2021 has been declared as “An International Year of Fruits and Vegetable” by UN general assembly when COVID-19 pandemic is moving around. The world is hopefully staring towards horticulture and its produces. It is well known that the horticultural crops are the richest source of nutritional, medicinal as well as aesthetic values. The commercial cultivation of forestry crops, silkworm, rearing mushroom and beekeeping further expanded the scope of horticulture. Along with nutritional security, food and health security is also provide by horticultural crops. Horticulture is going to play a key role for the doubling the income of farmers. Now farmer is having liberty to sale their produces to the international market due to digital evaluation. Horticulture has also capacity building to generate substantial employment opportunities through post-harvest and processing types of agro-industries, landscaping, consultancy, etc. It also provides alternate rural employment opportunities, diversification in farm activities and enhanced income to farmers. Indian horticulture sector contributes about 33% to the agriculture Gross Value Added (GVA) making very significant contribution to the Indian economy. India is currently producing about 320.48 million tons of horticulture produce, which has surpassed the food grain production, that too from much less area 25.66 million hectare for horticulture against 127.6 million ha for food grains. India has emerged as world leader in the production of variety of fruits like; mango, banana, guava, papaya, sapota, pomegranate, lime & aonla and is the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables. Besides, India has maintained its dominance in the production of spices, coconut and cashewnut. Among the new crops, kiwi, gherkins, kin now, date palm and oil palm have successfully introduced for commercial cultivation in the country. The demand of horticultural produces is increased during last decade due to greater health and nutritional awareness resulted to Increase in consumption rate of the fruits & vegetables in peoples. The issue of climate change has thrown up greater uncertainties and risks, further imposing constraints on production systems. Gujarat also has 18.30 lakh ha of land under horticulture with annual production of 237.83 lakh MT 7.66 lakh ha of land under horticulture cultivation with annual production of 54.40 lakh MT during the year 2019-20. The climate of South-Saurashtra region, where Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh is situated, is typically sub-tropical characterized by fairly hot and dry summer. The monsoons are warm and moderately humid and winters are cold and dry. Saurashtra receives precipitation through South-west monsoon, with average annual rainfall from 400 mm in the northern part to 1000 mm in the southern part. The soils found in South Gujarat and Saurashtra are predominantly clayey.

     Saurashtra is the historical and cultural region of Gujarat state. Horticulture is developing very fast in Saurashtra. During last decade, the popularity of the different horticultural crops is increased not only to the farmers, but also up to the consumer hands. Saurashtra is also rich in diversified soils and climate including long coastal belts with red lateritic soils suitable for many horticultural crops. The main horticultural produces are mango, sapota, acid lime, coconut, ber, guava, onion, brinjal, cabbage, chilli, okra, tomato etc. Junagadh is the hub of horticulture in Saurashtra region. It is famous for Gir Kesar mango (GI 185) as well as sapota, black jamun, custard apple, etc. It is essential to improve the quality and market potentiality of horticultural crops with employment generation, which needs human resource development, entrepreneurs, professionals, etc. through horticulture education. Looking to the need of region, the proposal for College of Horticulture is made by the Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh.

     The College of Horticulture was a constituent college of Junagadh Agricultural University (JAU) situated at main campus in heart of Junagadh of the Gujarat State. The college has been sanctioned as “Establishment of Horticulture Wing at Junagadh” by the Department of Agriculture & Co-operation, Government of Gujarat on 19^thApril, 2012 for awarding the B.Sc. (Hons.) Horticulture degree with an initial intake of 50 students, but now the intake capacity is reached up to 96 students. Horticulture wing was declared as College of Horticulture with various department of different disciplines duirng the year 2017. The PG programme was also started under the edge of college from the year 2019 with discipline of Fruit Science, Floriculture and landscape Architecture and Vegetable Science for awarding the degrees of PG and Ph.D.  College is established with new college bilding as per the criteria of ICAR is spread over approximately 1137sq.m. area. The College was started with already established horticultural farms like Sakkarbag, Lalbag, Madhadibag, Jambuvadi & Khengarvav which alltogether have fruit orchards of 55 hectare land. Full-fledged nurseries are available at various horticultural farms which are useful for the practical classes of UG/PG students and also supply quality planting materials to the farmers of Saurashtra region.

     The College of Horticulture is imparting higher education in the field of horticulture in Gujarat state. Its mandate is to produce professionals, scientists, entrepreneurs, skilled graduates, post graduates who will be the guiding force for the welfare of farmers directly or indirectly. The college also works to improve socio-economic status of the farmers as well as imparting horticultural education to the students. Besides playing an important role in changing the horticulture scenario of the state. The college is under the direct administration of Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh (SAU). The college has been assigned the duties and responsibilities of not only horticultural education but also of research and extension.

     The teachers of the college are appointed as Professors, Associate Professors and Assistant Professors in their respective subjects to look after the teaching, research and extension activities of the college for the benefit of students and farming community. Hence, the college is actively engaged in triple action activities of Teaching, Research & Extension i.e. TRE. Due to TRE of the college, it has become a paramount force in terms of all the horticultural activities in the Saurashtra Region.

The College is committed to provide horticulture education to UG & PG students, horticulture research and transfer of technology to reach the needs of stake holder.

To develop human resource in horticulture field to serve the society.

1. To provide under graduate /post-graduation education in horticulture faculty leading to Bachelor /Masters/ Ph.D. degree in Horticulture.

2. To implement recommendations of the Deans’ Committee Report of ICAR in terms of course content, credit requirement, examination system and guidelines for under graduate education.

3. To strengthen various laboratories with modern scientific equipment as per revised course curricula, the library on scientific lines, redesigning the course content, ensuring adequacy in practical exposure in the field of horticulture.

4. To strengthen the faculties and manpower in the college and to ensure proper placement of under graduate students of the college.

5. To introduce relevant vocational and professional courses related to horticulture discipline.

6. To provide integrated horticulture education at all levels to develop efficiency and effectiveness in skill, attitude and knowledge among the students and to provide necessary placement support to the students.