Nagpur: Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday said Nagpur’s globally recognised orange has the potential to become the backbone of Vidarbha’s agricultural economy if researchers, govt institutions and nurseries work together to ensure the availability of high-quality, disease-free saplings.Addressing a workshop organised under the Centre’s Clean Plant Programme by the ICAR-Central Citrus Research Institute in Nagpur, Gadkari said while Vidarbha’s agriculture faces several challenges, each problem can be addressed through scientific intervention and better extension services.“If researchers in govt institutions guide nurseries properly and ensure the production of disease-free saplings, farmers will benefit.
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Nagpur oranges can emerge as the mainstay of Vidarbha’s agricultural economy,” he said.The workshop, held at the institute’s campus on Amravati Road, was attended by officials and researchers from 12 states, including Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Manipur. ICAR director Dilip Kumar Ghosh, chief scientist AK Das and Sudhir Dive were among those present.Gadkari stressed the need for scientific water management and soil testing in agriculture but said the availability of disease-free saplings was even more crucial for sustainable growth in citrus cultivation.He urged research institutions to align their work with Vidarbha’s agricultural needs and ensure that innovations reach farmers. Govt agencies, he said, should produce quality saplings and seeds, guide nursery operators and farmers, and provide training in scientific nursery management.“Quality, disease-free saplings will help farmers achieve higher productivity with lower investment,” he said.The programme also highlighted that amendments to Maharashtra’s nursery regulations, initiated through Gadkari’s efforts, have strengthened the regulatory framework for nurseries in the state.
