Nagpur: Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari on Saturday said that his recent visit to Spain with orange growers from Vidarbha is already showing results, with farmers from eight districts beginning to adopt advanced cultivation methods inspired by Spain’s highly productive orange farms.Speaking at the foundation day event of National Academy of Direct Taxes (NADT) in Nagpur, Gadkari said farmers were amazed after watching drone footage of Valencia’s orange orchards, which produce 20–25 tonne per acre—five times more than the 3–5 tonne typically grown in Vidarbha. “In one acre of Valencia’s farms, there are 300–400 trees, all scientifically pruned and maintained. Drones are used for spraying and monitoring. Our farmers immediately grasped the potential of these systems,” he said.Gadkari revealed that nearly 70–80 farmers from eight to nine districts who joined the Spain tour have already begun implementing similar practices, triggering what he termed a “large-scale transformation” in the region’s orange farming. “Changes are visible in nurseries, cultivation techniques, and the rural economy. I believe Vidarbha’s orange yield will increase three to four times within the next five years,” he said.Stressing the need for “training, promotion, and research and development” as the three pillars of agricultural innovation, Gadkari urged farmers to stay open to learning. “Transformation is possible only when we are willing to learn, innovate, and adapt. Pride of knowledge must not prevent us from progress,” he said.Gadkari’s remarks have rekindled optimism across Vidarbha’s famed orange belt, long celebrated for its quality produce but hampered by low productivity. With scientific methods and modern technology taking root, the region’s citrus sector could soon witness a historic turnaround.
