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Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Friday, October 2, announced a Rs 1 lakh crore initiative to develop drought-prone Rayalaseema into a global horticulture hub, with cultivation spread across six lakh hectares.
The CM made the statement while speaking at the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Global Horticulture Hub and Indian School of Agriculture (ISA) at Madanapalle in Annamayya district. The event was attended by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Reliance Industries’ executive director Anant Ambani, Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan and minister Nara Lokesh.
“The initiative will help make Rayalaseema a major fruit-producing region while improving price and crop stability for farmers. With irrigation and market infrastructure, farmers could cultivate nearly 20 varieties of crops,” Chandrababu Naidu said.
The project aims to address water scarcity through drip irrigation, farm ponds and watershed management. Key irrigation works, including Handri-Neeva Phase-2, Veligonda Phase-2 and the Madakasira Branch Canal, are being taken up as part of the project. The Chief Minister said 36 ongoing irrigation projects, estimated at Rs 35,000 crore, would be completed within three years.
Nirmala Sitharaman said the BJP-led Union government was supporting farmers through Kisan Credit, crop insurance, fertiliser supply and schemes promoting solar-powered irrigation. She said the objective was to transform Rayalaseema into “Rathanala Seema”.
Anant Ambani said Reliance was proud to partner with the horticulture hub and the ISA. Seeking Naidu’s guidance, he also said that he considered himself “a son of Andhra”.
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