Horticulture Minister Bharat Gogawale visits orchards in Katol and Kalmeshwar talukas

Nagpur, Dec 2025 : Employment Guarantee Scheme, Horticulture and Saline Land Development Minister Bharat Gogawale today visited and inspected orchards and nurseries of various progressive farmers in Katol and Kalmeshwar talukas. He reviewed the orchards of progressive farmers at Kohli in Kalmeshwar taluka and Hatla in Katol taluka, and gathered detailed information.

Chairman of the Vasantrao Naik Sheti Swavalamban Mission Nilesh Helonde Patil, Vice-Chancellor of Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krushi Vidyapeeth Dr. Sharad Gadakh, Director of the Horticulture Department Ankush Mane, Divisional Joint Director of Agriculture Umesh Ghatge, District Superintendent Agriculture Officer Ravindra Manohare, Director of Research at Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krushi Vidyapeeth Dr. Shamsundar Mane, Dean of the Agriculture College Dr. Devanand Panchbhai, Head of the Regional Fruit Research Centre at Wandali Dr. Megha Dahale, Head of the Agriculture College Department Dr. Vinod Raut, Manoj Javanjal, along with senior officers of the Horticulture and Agriculture Departments, were present on the occasion.

First, the Minister visited the orchard of Sushma Subhashrao Wankhede at Kohli, who has availed benefits under the Agriculture Department’s Bhausaheb Fundkar Fruit Orchard Plantation Scheme. He gathered information on the Indo-Israel method of orange cultivation, the bending method, minimal use of rotavator and herbicides, and the use of organic manure.

Thereafter, he visited the farm of progressive farmer Dhiraj Junghare at Hatla in Katol taluka. Oranges have been cultivated over a total area of 45 hectares. Modern plantation using the Indo-Israel method has been adopted, along with advanced irrigation systems and techniques, and scientific practices to achieve higher productivity. Horticulture Minister Gogawale took detailed information on all these aspects. He also visited the Regional Fruit Research Centre at Katol.

At Katol, he visited the university’s experimental farm and reviewed the ongoing research work. He inspected mother plant orchards planted using the Indo-Israel method, orange and sweet lime grafts produced under shade nets, and an exhibition showcasing various stored varieties of orange and sweet lime fruits.