Jalgaon, March 19 -- On the sacred occasion of Gudi Padwa, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday interacted with banana farmers at Jain Hills in Jalgaon district, discussing cultivation challenges and outlining plans for the development of a dedicated banana cluster in the region.

Gudi Padwa, celebrated primarily in Maharashtra and Goa, marks the beginning of the traditional new year. The festival derives its name from two words, 'gudi', representing the flag of Lord Brahma, and 'padwa', indicating the first day of the lunar phase. The occasion also signals the onset of warmer days and the arrival of spring.

During the interaction, Chouhan underlined the importance of ground-level engagement to frame effective agr...