₹1 Lakh Crore Horticulture Hub to Transform Rayalaseema

A ₹1 lakh crore horticulture hub planned across Rayalaseema will take a major step forward on October 2, with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman scheduled to jointly lay its foundation stone at Madanapalle. The state government said the ambitious initiative will combine public funding with private investment to create a large-scale horticulture ecosystem across the region.

Under the project, the Central government is expected to provide ₹40,000 crore through the Purvodaya scheme, while another ₹60,000 crore will come from private investments. The government said the initiative will extend beyond Rayalaseema's four erstwhile districts to include Prakasam and Nellore, bringing several drought-prone areas under the proposed horticulture development network.

The project is primarily aimed at encouraging farmers in water-stressed regions to shift towards horticultural crops and strengthening the agricultural economy. The government said efforts are being made to complete irrigation projects alongside horticulture development so that farmers have greater access to water and can improve their earnings through higher-value crops.

Officials see horticulture as an important avenue for diversifying agriculture in the region, particularly in areas where conventional farming has been affected by recurring drought conditions. The proposed investment is also expected to support wider agricultural infrastructure and economic activity.

The foundation stone for the proposed Indian School of Agriculture will also be laid during the Madanapalle event. The institution, being established by Reliance, is expected to provide education and specialised training in agriculture. The state government said the initiative would contribute to improving the quality of agricultural education and developing skills needed by the farming sector.

Naidu is scheduled to undertake a five-day programme from September 29 to October 3, covering several government initiatives.

On September 29, he will attend a Karmayogi Mission programme organised by the Department of Personnel and Training in Vijayawada before participating in the Palle Panduga programme at Udayagiri in Nellore district.

The following day, he will participate in the distribution of house-site pattas to 24,000 beneficiaries in Vijayawada. On October 1, he will take part in pension distribution under the ‘Pedala Sevalo’ programme.

On October 2, following the Madanapalle foundation ceremony, Naidu will participate in ‘Swarna Andhra–Swachha Andhra’ activities and the annual Swachha Andhra programme in Vijayawada marking Gandhi Jayanti. His schedule will conclude on October 3 with participation in the Pan-IIT conference in Vijayawada.