Gadkari urges all parties to unite to make Vidarbha drought-free; Agrovision from November 27

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that if Vidarbha is to be made drought-free, everyone must come together, rising above party politics. Gadkari, the chief inspiration behind Agrovision, made the appeal in Nagpur at a meeting of the organising committee called to prepare for the 17th Agrovision.

The exhibition will be held in Nagpur from November 27 to 30 this year. Agrovision is counted among the big agricultural exhibitions of central India. Its aim is to give farmers new technology suited to changing conditions, better farming methods and expert advice.

According to Gadkari, all elected representatives, administrative officers and organisations working in rural areas will have to make a joint effort to strengthen farmers' economic condition. He said work should be done on saving water, using it wisely and planning farming well.

Gadkari acknowledged that drought is a big problem in Vidarbha. But he said the challenge can be tackled if everyone makes a joint effort, plans properly and makes good use of the resources available.

He said boosting farmers' morale and informing them about ways to deal with drought is a special aim of Agrovision. This will inspire farmers to plan their farming better and use available resources more effectively.

Gadkari also said challenges before agriculture are growing because of climate change and the unreliability of rain. In such a situation, water conservation, water augmentation, economical use of water and the right choice of crops have become very important. In his view, adopting crop practices suited to drought and planning the available water properly can help farmers weather the crisis. Agrovision will hold special workshops on farming with less water, modern agricultural technology and topics related to various crops.

At the meeting, Minister of State for Agriculture Ashish Jaiswal informed those present about the agriculture department's schemes in drought conditions and the efforts being made for farmers. He said farmers should plan their farming according to the resources and conditions in their area. According to Jaiswal, the state government stands firmly with farmers, offering the help and guidance needed in times of crisis.

Agrovision president Ravi Borteker opened the meeting with an introduction. Secretary Dr C.D. Mayee spoke about this year's main agricultural workshops, in which experts will give guidance on various crops, modern technologies and new opportunities in the farm sector.

Minister of State for Home Dr Pankaj Bhoyar, Dr Sharad Gadakh, vice-chancellor of Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, MP Maya Ivnate and MLA Dr Praveen Pote were present. Several elected representatives, office-bearers from the agriculture sector and farmers also attended.

Finally, Gadkari said that taking the benefits of government schemes to the last person in society, making farmers prosperous and improving the living standards of ordinary people should be everyone's shared goal. He appealed to elected representatives to come together on one platform for the betterment of farmers, farming and the rural economy. He is confident that water conservation, better water management, modern agricultural technology and proper implementation of government schemes can strengthen Vidarbha's rural economy.