Union Minister Nitin Gadkari hailed the newly inaugurated Patanjali Food and Herbal Park in Nagpur’s Mihan area as a lifeline for Vidarbha’s struggling farmers during its launch on Sunday. Joined by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Patanjali co-founder Ramdev, and managing director Acharya Balkrishna, Gadkari emphasized the park’s potential to address the region’s agrarian distress, marked by numerous farmer suicides. Representing Nagpur in Lok Sabha, he highlighted his efforts to boost orange production, improve quality, and secure better prices for local cultivators.

“The new park will come as a relief to Vidarbha farmers,” Gadkari said, underscoring its role in tackling economic challenges. The facility, a collaboration with Patanjali Ayurved, aims to process a variety of fruits, with a special focus on oranges—a key crop in the region. Fadnavis echoed this optimism, calling it a “boon” for orange growers. He detailed how the plant will handle sorting, grading, and storage, utilizing every part of the fruit, including skin and seeds, to minimize waste and maximize value.

Fadnavis, who pushed for the project, stressed the broader vision: “Along with oranges, all other fruits will be processed here.” He noted that without such infrastructure, farmers face wastage and poor returns, a persistent issue in Vidarbha. The park promises to stabilize incomes by ensuring fair prices and reducing losses, offering a sustainable model for the region’s agriculture.

Both leaders expressed gratitude to Ramdev and Balkrishna for choosing Nagpur, a move seen as a blend of economic upliftment and Patanjali’s herbal expertise. As Vidarbha grapples with its farming crisis, this initiative signals hope, aiming to transform the fortunes of cultivators through innovation and market access.