Nagpur: Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday chaired a review meeting of water user associations, beneficiary farmers, and officials from the irrigation and agriculture departments, along with National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), associated with the Gosikhurd project.Gadkari emphasised that creating irrigation infrastructure alone is insufficient, and called for a shift towards ensuring tangible benefits for farmers. He stressed that planning must integrate increased production and productivity, employment generation in irrigated areas, promotion of small industries, and strengthening of the rural economy.“Stakeholders must work with clarity on who the beneficiaries are, what they will gain, and what needs to be done to achieve those outcomes,” he said.Rajendra Deshkar presented the project’s current status. Gadkari underscored the need for comprehensive planning to ensure benefits reach the last mile. He noted that agriculture in Vidarbha remains heavily dependent on erratic monsoons, leaving farmers vulnerable to economic uncertainty. Large irrigation projects like Gosikhurd are vital in this context, he said, adding that assured water supply can support crop diversification, double cropping, and growth of agro-processing industries.
