The National Horticulture Research Centre (NHRC) was established as the Horticulture Research Division under the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) in 1994. It was renamed as NHRC with the enlarged mandate of national horticultural research in 2020. Its establishment is deep-rooted in the Fruit Development Division (FDD) and Vegetable Development Division (VDD) in 1972 under the Department of Agriculture. This initiative led to research and development of the horticulture sector in Nepal. Later, the National Agriculture Research and Service Centre (NARSC) existed for the country’s agriculture research, development, and extension activities. In 1987, NARSC was given a separate entity with overall responsibilities for agricultural research. Later, NARSC was recognized as the Nepal Agricultural Research Council with autonomy and an overall agricultural research mandate according to the NARC Act 1991. The NHRC is one of the key research organizations out of 63 research entities under the NARC.

Goal

• To contribute to improving the livelihood of Nepalese people.

Purpose

• Sustainable, socially accepted, economically feasible, eco-friendly, and climate-resilient technologies are being developed in horticulture.

 Objectives

• To generate technologies that help to increase the production and productivity of horticultural crops for the diverse agroecological regions of the country.

The specific objectives of the NHRC include:

• Act as a central body for horticultural research on vegetables, fruits, flowers, and plantation crops, which are important for domestic consumption and export.
• Coordinate at the national level for germplasm conservation and variety maintenance of vegetables and fruit.
• Act as a scientific support agency and technically support the research station and horticultural commodity research programs.
• Establish linkage with national, regional, and international horticultural research institutions to exchange expertise, materials, and collaborative research.
• Publish research findings and recommendations; collaborate with extension agencies for dissemination.
• Act as a repository center for information on horticultural technologies.
• Provide expertise to extension agencies and private entrepreneurs.