The region of Vidarbha has witnessed a series of policy decisions and industry commitments that point to the growth of opportunities beyond information technology. For years, the area was often seen primarily through the lens of agriculture and resource-based industries, yet recent government and industry announcements highlight its potential to expand in new directions.

The initiatives being rolled out are linked to agro-processing, creative technologies, and new approaches to agricultural value addition. These developments are not limited to abstract promises, as they are backed by official approvals, financial commitments, and specific project announcements.

The youth of the region now find themselves in a position where new economic activity is opening up in different sectors. It is worth examining four such confirmed or mostly confirmed areas that are set to shape Vidarbha’s near future.

1. Orange Processing Centres and the Growth of Agro-Processing

The Maharashtra government has extended by two years the scheme for establishing modern orange processing centres across five locations in Vidarbha. These centres are set up in Nagpur, Katol, Kalameshwar, Morshi in Amravati, and Sangrampur in Buldhana. The aim is to directly address the estimated 25 to 30 percent post-harvest losses suffered by farmers due to a lack of proper storage, grading, and processing facilities. The scheme includes infrastructure for cold storage, sorting, grading, and packaging, which are considered critical for extending shelf life and improving market access.

Alongside this, plans are underway to operationalise three new orange packaging units by the end of the year. These units are meant to complement the larger processing centres, providing smaller but crucial hubs of post-harvest management. Government reports highlight that the combined network will directly contribute to reducing waste and increasing the quality of oranges shipped to different markets. This also reflects an effort to build a larger orange economy in the region, valued at an estimated ten thousand crore rupees over the coming decade.

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries has identified 16 clusters in Vidarbha under the Cluster Development Programme, with agro and food processing forming the primary focus. These clusters are being promoted as platforms where small and medium enterprises can grow with targeted support. The integration of laboratories, training halls, and farmers’ markets around these centres also indicates a multi-layered approach to agro-processing. Such developments suggest that orange cultivation in Vidarbha is moving from being only a farming activity to becoming the centre of a structured value chain with long-term commercial possibilities.

2. The Expanding Orange Economy

Beyond processing centres, the notion of a dedicated orange economy is being promoted by state and national authorities. Analysts and policymakers have projected that Vidarbha’s oranges, especially the widely recognised Nagpur variety, can serve as the foundation of a structured agro-industry.

Reports highlight that the peel, pulp, and juice can all be processed for different uses, ranging from beverages and confectionery to essential oils and cosmetic extracts. The focus is therefore on ensuring that no part of the produce goes to waste.

The strategy includes branding Nagpur oranges on a global scale and encouraging investments in export-oriented units. Packaging facilities are being aligned with international standards to allow easier penetration into European and Middle Eastern markets. There is also growing mention of encouraging entrepreneurs to explore by-products like candied peels and essential oils that carry high value in the pharmaceutical and wellness industries.

The projected value of this orange economy, set at ten thousand crore rupees, is not limited to farming revenues.

It also covers transport, processing, branding, and marketing, all of which create diverse work opportunities. Government agencies have made clear that training and skilling programmes will be included to ensure that the youth are prepared for technical and managerial positions. This broad approach demonstrates how a single crop, already deeply embedded in the identity of Vidarbha, is being reframed as the base of a complex commercial system.

3. Cluster Development in Agro and Food Processing

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries has placed significant emphasis on developing clusters across Vidarbha. Sixteen clusters have been identified under the Cluster Development Programme, with a strong concentration on agro and food processing. Some of these clusters have already been approved for immediate action, while others are under planning. The purpose of clustering is to bring together multiple small and medium-scale units in close proximity, allowing them to share resources and infrastructure.

Within these clusters, cold storage facilities, quality testing laboratories, and common processing areas are being developed. These are intended to reduce costs for small entrepreneurs who may not be able to afford them individually. Farmers are expected to benefit from improved access to these facilities, which in turn increases their bargaining power in markets. Another element being integrated into the clusters is the presence of training halls where new farming and processing techniques can be demonstrated.

The focus on agro-processing clusters is not accidental. Vidarbha produces cotton, soybeans, tur, and citrus on a massive scale, and post-harvest losses in all these categories are a persistent problem. By building clusters, the authorities are attempting to create ecosystems where innovation in packaging, grading, and processing can flourish. These clusters are also expected to encourage private investment by reducing the risks and costs associated with individual setups. In practical terms, they provide an environment where multiple stakeholders, farmers, entrepreneurs, traders, and researchers can function in close coordination.

4. AVGC-XR and Creative Technologies

The Maharashtra government has recently approved the AVGC-XR Policy 2025 with an outlay of 3,268 crore rupees. AVGC-XR refers to animation, visual effects, gaming, comics, and extended reality, and the policy aims to make the state a major hub for this sector. The approval includes the creation of high-tech media parks across cities, with Nagpur identified as a major centre for such activity. The decision marks a deliberate step toward diversifying the economic base of Vidarbha beyond traditional industries.

The policy is expected to generate around two lakh jobs and attract investments valued at approximately fifty thousand crore rupees. Media parks will be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for production, post-production, and immersive technology projects. For Nagpur and the surrounding areas, this is expected to create opportunities not only for trained animators and designers but also for supporting services in studio management, content distribution, and digital production.

The policy is also linked to global markets, with an aim to position Maharashtra, including Vidarbha, as a supplier of creative content to international studios and companies. The government has highlighted that tax incentives, subsidies, and incubation support will be provided to startups entering this sector. By allocating significant resources and planning infrastructure in Nagpur, the AVGC-XR initiative ensures that the region is formally included in the state’s larger creative technology roadmap. This places Vidarbha in a position where it can participate in a growing global industry that goes far beyond conventional local boundaries.

The developments in agro-processing, the structured growth of the orange economy, the creation of food processing clusters, and the introduction of AVGC-XR policy initiatives collectively point to a changing economic environment in Vidarbha. These projects are not abstract ideas, but concrete steps backed by financial allocations, infrastructure planning, and government approvals. Each of them is being implemented with a mix of local and global perspectives, showing that Vidarbha is increasingly viewed as more than a peripheral agricultural zone.

The sectors being built are diverse, spanning food technology and creative media, and they open different avenues for the youth who are looking for alternatives beyond the information technology sector. The scale of commitment involved indicates that the region is entering a phase where opportunities across traditional and modern industries will coexist, providing a more balanced economic outlook for years to come.