Agro Vision 11th Edition Inauguration by Nitin Gadkari

The 11th Edition of Agro Vision, one of India’s most prominent agricultural exhibitions, was inaugurated by Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), on 22 November 2019 at the Reshimbag Ground in Nagpur, Maharashtra. The event aimed to create a collaborative platform for farmers, industry professionals, scientists, and policymakers to exchange ideas and explore innovations in the field of agriculture and allied sectors.

Background

Agro Vision was conceptualised as a platform to transform Indian agriculture through technology adoption, education, and entrepreneurship. Initiated to empower farmers, it seeks to bridge the gap between research institutions, industries, and farming communities. By its 11th edition, the event had become a national platform promoting modern agricultural practices, diversification into allied sectors, and awareness about agri-business opportunities.
The event particularly focused on enhancing agricultural productivity, promoting sustainable farming practices, and strengthening the linkages between agriculture, technology, and market access. It also aimed to highlight the significance of integrating the rural economy with industrial and technological advancements.

Key Features of the Event

The four-day exhibition was a major gathering of diverse stakeholders across the agricultural value chain. The event witnessed participation from over 400 organisations representing various domains such as farm machinery, agro-inputs, irrigation systems, organic products, and food processing industries.
Key features included:

• Farmer Workshops: Conducted to train farmers in modern farming methods, organic cultivation, and post-harvest management.
• Technology Demonstrations: Exhibitions showcasing advanced agricultural machinery, drones, sensors, and irrigation systems.
• Knowledge Seminars: Sessions on climate-resilient agriculture, water management, agri-entrepreneurship, and innovations in agri-finance.
• Allied Sector Focus: Emphasis on dairy, fisheries, poultry, and food processing to encourage diversification of income sources.
• Smart Farmer Initiative: Promoting the idea of a technologically informed and economically self-reliant farmer, capable of integrating innovation into farming decisions.

Remarks by Nitin Gadkari

In his inaugural address, Nitin Gadkari urged the agricultural community to embrace modern technologies and engage with allied sectors to enhance their income and economic stability. He stressed that traditional agriculture must evolve towards value addition, processing, and marketing. Gadkari emphasised the importance of innovation, sustainable practices, and entrepreneurship among farmers, particularly in the Vidarbha region, which faces significant agrarian challenges.
He also highlighted the role of MSMEs in agriculture, advocating for better access to finance and the introduction of digital credit rating systems to assist small entrepreneurs in securing loans and expanding their businesses. His remarks reflected a broader vision of integrating rural industries with agricultural growth to generate employment and strengthen the rural economy.

Significance

Agro Vision’s 11th edition represented more than just an exhibition; it was a movement towards empowering farmers through information, innovation, and interaction. The event served as:

• A knowledge exchange hub, connecting farmers with scientists, technologists, and policy experts.
• A marketplace for innovation, where agritech companies and research bodies showcased emerging solutions to agricultural challenges.
• A platform for policy advocacy, aligning government programmes with on-ground needs.
• An inspiration for agripreneurship, encouraging farmers to view agriculture as a business with multifaceted opportunities.

Regional Importance

The venue at Nagpur made the event particularly meaningful for the Vidarbha region, a part of India historically dependent on agriculture and often affected by droughts and farm distress. The exhibition aimed to provide new hope to farmers in this region by introducing sustainable methods, crop diversification, and non-farming avenues like food processing, dairy, and renewable energy.
Through hands-on demonstrations and expert sessions, Agro Vision helped local farmers understand how adopting integrated farming and efficient resource management could reduce costs and increase profits. It also encouraged collective farming models and farmer-producer organisations (FPOs) to strengthen bargaining power in the market.

Implications and Future Outlook

The 11th edition of Agro Vision underscored the importance of innovation-driven agriculture in India’s development strategy. It showcased how collaboration between government institutions, private enterprises, and farmers could transform the agricultural landscape. The event’s emphasis on sustainability, technology adoption, and entrepreneurship aligned with national objectives such as doubling farmers’ income and promoting rural industrialisation.
In the years following this edition, Agro Vision continued to grow as a forum that not only exhibited technology but also shaped agricultural policy thinking and farmer education. By integrating themes such as digital agriculture, start-up incubation, and women’s participation in agribusiness, it evolved into a holistic model of agricultural empowerment.