Published Oct 02, 2026 | 7:19 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 02, 2026 | 7:19 PM
Naidu said the drought-affected Rayalaseema is being reshaped into a ₹1 lakh crore global horticulture hub.
Synopsis: Foundation stones were laid for a Global Horticulture Hub and the Indian School of Agriculture. The Horticulture Hub is expected to benefit farmers across eight districts of Rayalaseema, as well as Prakasam and Markapuram districts.
The drought-prone Rayalaseema region in Andhra Pradesh will be transformed into a prosperous global horticulture hub, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced at Madanapalle in the Annamayya district on Friday, 2 October.
He said the Global Horticulture Hub will be developed at an estimated cost of ₹1 lakh crore, with plans to raise ₹40,000 crore through Central government support and ₹60,000 crore through private investments.
Naidu was speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony for the Global Horticulture Hub (GHH) and the Indian School of Agriculture (ISA).
The GHH has been launched to benefit horticulture farmers across eight districts of Rayalaseema, as well as Prakasam and Markapuram districts, the chief minister said.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, Reliance Industries Executive Director Anant Ambani, and Minister Nara Lokesh unveiled the plaque.
N Chandrababu Naidu with Anant Ambani.
Naidu stated that with the support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the drought-affected region is being reshaped into a ₹1 lakh crore global horticulture hub.
Pointing out that horticulture plays a key role in the primary sector’s growth, he noted that the sector currently contributes about ₹1.50 lakh crore in Gross Value Added (GVA), with a target to generate an additional ₹1 lakh crore.
Under this initiative, 5,860 villages will be organised into 201 clusters, and plans will be executed to expand horticulture cultivation across an additional 6 lakh acres.
The chief minister said the GHH would primarily provide end-to-end support to farmers. Support will be extended to a wide variety of horticulture crops, from apples and strawberries to bananas, avocados, kiwis, and dates, Naidu said.
Systems will be built to benefit farmers by boosting food processing, agri-tech, logistics, and agricultural infrastructure, securing stable farmer incomes through a “seed-to-shipment” model.
Also Read: Naidu pledges to remake Rayalaseema into ‘land of pearls’
Union Minister Sitharaman said the Centre has been subsidising ₹2,700 to provide urea to farmers at ₹300 a bag. She listed the central government’s welfare schemes for farmers.
Sitaraman said the central and state governments were jointly offering welfare schemes for aquaculture and livestock farming. She said efficient water management plans are being made to ensure irrigation, and that Reliance is setting up the Indian School of Agriculture to assist farming communities.
“Just like the Indian School of Business, the ISA will empower farmers,” she said.
Reliance Executive Director Anant Ambani requested that he be seen as a son of Andhra Pradesh. In response, Chandrababu announced that the state embraces Anant as the beloved son of Andhra and expressed his wish for the Indian School of Agriculture to grow into a world-class institution.
After the foundation-laying ceremony, the Andhra Pradesh government and Reliance signed an agreement.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
