Patanjali Food Park in Nagpur to Aid Vidarbha Farmers: Gadkari

NEW DELHI: Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Sunday said the newly inaugurated Patanjali Food and Herbal Park in Nagpur will provide much-needed relief to cultivators in the Vidarbha region, which has witnessed several farmer suicides.

Gadkari, along with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, inaugurated the food park at Mihan in Nagpur.

Patanjali Ayurved’s co-founder Ramdev and its managing director Acharya Balkrishna were also present at the event.

The Union minister, who represents the Nagpur Lok Sabha seat, highlighted the initiatives taken to support orange farmers in Vidarbha, focusing on improving production quality and ensuring fair prices.

“The new park will come as a relief to farmers in Vidarbha, where there have been several cases of farmer suicides,” he said.

Fadnavis called the facility a boon for orange growers. “I feel that this centre (park) will be a boon not only for this project but for all the orange-growing farmers,” he said.

The park’s orange processing plant will accept all varieties of oranges from farmers. Sorting, grading, and storage will be done at the plant, ensuring complete processing, including the fruit’s skin and seeds, Fadnavis added.

He emphasized the importance of fruit processing to prevent wastage and ensure better prices for farmers.

Gadkari and Fadnavis expressed gratitude to Ramdev and Balkrishna for setting up the food park.

Two days earlier, in a Press Conference, Acharya Balkrishna told the media that the park would bring long-awaited relief to Vidarbha’s farmers.

“The mention of Vidarbha immediately brings to mind the suffering of farmers and the suicides committed by them. We are confident that this picture will soon change, thanks to this orange processing plant,” he said.

Balkrishna sought support for the plant, stating that Patanjali aims to uplift farmers and provide local employment.

“Almost every farmer in every village in this area is in touch with us. Some talented individuals have also come to our notice. Our priority is to provide employment to locals and ensure prosperity for farmers,” he stated.

He acknowledged the delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic in establishing the plant but emphasized Patanjali’s commitment to skill training and workforce development in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision.