States » WestPosted at: Nov 14 2026 5:33PM


Agrovision to showcase Vidarbha's successful water conservation models: Gadkari

Nagpur, Nov 14 (UNI) union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday stressed the need to expand water conservation and irrigation initiatives across Vidarbha to make the region drought-free, saying successful models developed in the region were now being replicated in other parts of the country.
Addressing a press conference ahead of the 18th edition of Agrovision, Gadkari said the NITI Aayog had recognised and appreciated the Buldhana Pattern of water conservation, while the Bihar government had adopted the model through an agreement with Maharashtra. The conference is scheduled to kick off here on November 27.
He said Bihar would implement a flood-free and water-rich 'Jal Sanjivani' campaign by deepening rivers and streams and utilising the excavated material for road construction without charging royalty.
Projects worth around Rs 5 lakh crore were currently being undertaken through his department in Bihar, including the deepening of the Ganga over a stretch of more than 300 km at an estimated cost of Rs 40,000 crore.
"These successful experiments have their roots in Vidarbha. We must bring them before people again and encourage those who have successfully implemented them to guide others," he said.
Gadkari said a special session at Agrovision would highlight successful water conservation initiatives, including the Buldhana Pattern, Bhandara model promoted through the Art of Living, the Buldhana Pattern of water conservation along highways and the Sarovar Pattern developed by Punjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth in Akola, where 36 ponds have been created.
Other initiatives to be showcased include rural water management projects undertaken by the Kamalnayan J Bajaj Foundation and Jalkalyankari Sanstha, besides a lift-irrigation project at Muradpur near Melghat, where floating solar panels and large pumps are being used to supply water from the Wadgaon dam's backwater to farms belonging to around 800 to 1,000 tribal farmers.
Emphasising the need for a mass movement, Gadkari said the water conservation programme would focus on involving village sarpanches, panchayat members, Panchayat Samiti representatives and Zilla Parishad members in expanding such initiatives across Vidarbha.
He said the region had around 6,000 malguzari tanks, particularly in Bhandara, Gondia and eastern Vidarbha, which needed deepening and desilting. Rivers, streams, nullahs, ponds and lakes should also be desilted on a large scale to increase water storage capacity.
Gadkari suggested installing solar pumps at existing water-storage structures and using the stored water for both irrigation and drinking purposes.
He said the government should also explore ways to utilise water accumulated in the valleys of Vidarbha to support farmers during drought conditions.
Referring to his personal experience, he said water conservation had significantly improved water availability on his farm at Dhapewada, where three wells and pumps of around 7.5 horsepower each were now operational, compared to an earlier arrangement that provided water for barely an hour during summer.
Despite several government initiatives, drought conditions continued to affect parts of the state, he said, adding that the government and society must collectively intensify water conservation efforts to prevent farmers from facing distress.
Gadkari also outlined Agrovision's focus on agricultural research, crop diversification, natural farming, food processing, animal husbandry and modern technology.
He said expert discussions would be held on increasing soybean productivity, improving orange varieties through genetic research and promoting vegetable seeds and oilseeds to reduce India's dependence on imports.
He said IIT Kharagpur had developed a genetic identification technology for orange varieties, which could help improve crop quality.
Stressing the need to make farmers energy self-reliant, Gadkari said projects converting agricultural residue into CNG and promoting energy crops would be encouraged in Vidarbha.
He cited Nagpur's municipal waste-to-bio-CNG initiative as an example of sustainable fuel production, adding that the facility would produce 16 tonnes of bio-CNG daily.
He said more than 10,000 vehicles, including around 200 municipal buses, were expected to benefit from green fuel initiatives using municipal waste. Farmers in Washim and Mangrul Pir would also be encouraged to cultivate energy crops, particularly grass, for such projects.
Gadkari announced that Agrovision would showcase the country's first tractor running on a hybrid ethanol and bio-CNG system, developed by Ferguson Company. The technology could substantially reduce farmers' annual fuel expenses and eliminate dependence on diesel, he said.
Electric tractors, electric tillers and other agricultural innovations would also be displayed. Artificial intelligence applications in agriculture would receive special attention through a dedicated pavilion being developed in association with the Baramati Science Centre.
He said Agrovision would also focus on Farmer Producer Companies, Mother Dairy's farmer-producer initiatives, sugarcane cultivation, food processing, rural development and advanced agricultural machinery.
Highlighting Agrovision's impact since its inception in 2009, Gadkari said over 34 lakh farmers had participated in the event over the years, while around four lakh farmers were currently active in its network. More than 15,000 farmers had participated in conferences, with over 100 exhibitors and numerous success stories being showcased.
He said Vidarbha was witnessing increased investment in horticulture, dairy and poultry, along with a gradual shift towards crop diversification. Mother Dairy had provided debit cards to around 10,000 women, while drone-based spraying and other modern agricultural technologies were also being promoted.
Gadkari said the government should ensure that welfare schemes reached ordinary people at the village level.
He also stressed the need for crop-loss surveys, timely financial assistance, selection of crops based on soil moisture, establishment of fodder banks and cattle camps wherever necessary.
Drinking water should receive priority in water-management planning, while leakage and wastage must be reduced. Treated water should be supplied for local use wherever feasible, he added.
Announcing further infrastructure plans, Gadkari said an independent building of the Vision Foundation, alongside the Eastern Hub, would be inaugurated within the next two months. The facility would serve as an Agrovision education centre, offering training programmes, a platform for farmers to sell organic produce and a water-education laboratory.
The proposed centre would also accommodate around 400 people and host cultural activities, including dance, theatre, literature and music, he added.
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