Gadkari: Modern Tech and Traditional Farming Key to Farmers’ Prosperity

Blue Economy, AI, drones and clean fuels can open new opportunities for farmers

Nagpur, Sept 2025 : Vidarbha, the nation’s heartland, has immense potential in dairy, sugarcane, nursery, handloom and orange production. 

If traditional agrarian practices are integrated with modern technology, alternative farm-based livelihoods and innovative methods, it will help make farmers’ lives prosperous and eventually curb farmer suicides, said Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari while addressing the media in Nagpur.

He was speaking as the chief guest at the announcement ceremony of Agrovision 2025, a mega agriculture exhibition scheduled from 21st to 24th November 2025 at Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University Ground, Amravati Road, Nagpur.

The exhibition will be inaugurated in the presence of Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Maharashtra Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis and Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Shri Dattatraya Bharne.

Shri Gadkari said the primary objective of such events is to provide farmers with exposure to modern technologies, allied livelihoods and innovative practices that can strengthen agriculture and reduce distress in Vidarbha and adjoining regions.

Highlighting Vidarbha’s strengths, he emphasised the need to increase milk collection in the region to 50 lakh litres per day and adopt international best practices, including Valencia orange varieties from Spain and Israeli cultivation technologies, to raise per-acre orange productivity to 20–25 tonnes.

Shri Gadkari further noted that the Blue Economy, valued at ₹7.5 lakh crore, presents new opportunities for farmers. Efforts are underway to utilise the region’s freshwater reservoirs for prawn cultivation as an allied activity. He also underlined the importance of adopting artificial intelligence in agriculture, cleaner fuels such as ethanol and isobutanol, and innovations like drones and bamboo-based products to boost farm incomes and promote sustainable rural development.

The exhibition will showcase modern farm equipment, technologies and innovative practices through demonstrations, over 30 technical workshops by 60 experts, and special sessions on food processing, IT in agriculture, value addition and market linkages. Dedicated pavilions for MSMEs and agri-startups.