EXPRESSING his views at the concluding ceremony of fourdayAgrovisionexhibitionhere on Monday, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said that the expo is the firstplatform to make an attemptto provide an alternative to charcoal by producing white charcoal from bamboo. Gadkari said that Wardhabased Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Rural Industrialization (MGIRI) has developed this technology. “The calorific value of charcoal made from bamboo goes up to 4,000 and this option proves useful, we will be able to sell bamboo worth Rs 25 lakh crore.

 

It will significantly change the lives of lakhs of farmers in the bamboo growing areas,” he said adding that bamboo could be sold at a price of sugarcane in Maharashtra. Central India’s largest national agricultural exhibition, Agrovision, which has been going on for the past 13 years under the guidance of Gadkari, concluded on Friday at the PDKV ground in Dabha. On this occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis; Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Sahi; Arunachal Pradesh Agriculture Minister Tage Taki; MP RamdasTadas; former MP Dr Vikas Mahatme; Coordinator of Agrovision Ravindra Bortkar; Advisor Dr CDMayee and others were also present. Gadkari further appealed to the farmers to make progress with natural farming using modern technology. Fadnavis said that Agrovision expo has emerged as the new source for energy forthe farmers of Vidarbha.

 

He also said that the progress of Agrovision is inspiring. Fadnavis said that the Maharashtra Government is helping natural farming andits has launched the second phase of Jalyukta Shivar. AgricultureMinister of Uttar Pradesh, Surya Pratap Sahi said the recovery of sugarcane in Uttar Pradesh has reached 11percent under the guidance of Gadkari. Apart from this, he said that Uttar Pradeshis making progress inthe field of solar agriculture. Finally, sponsors, progressive farmers, stake holders were felicitated andprizes were given to students winning various competitions organised by Agro vision Foundation. Apart from this, a women self help group gathering was also held at the expo. Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tat kare was the chief guest on this occasion.