In a significant push to boost the horticulture sector, Chittoor district is set to receive an allocation of ₹1,529.69 crore under the Rayalaseema Integrated Horticulture Development Plan.
Speaking to the media here on Wednesday, District Collector Sumit Kumar said that the comprehensive plan was notified by the Agriculture and Cooperation (H&S) department to transform Rayalaseema, Prakasam and Markapuram into a Global Horticulture Hub. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will formally launch the programme at Madanapalle on October 2.
Mr. Sumit Kumar said that the plan was designed to integrate horticulture with irrigation, infrastructure, and rural development to create a complete value chain from production to marketing and exports, ensuring better incomes for farmers.
In Chittoor district, the programme will be implemented over three years across 20 clusters covering 27 mandals. In the first phase during 2026-27, five clusters in seven mandals will be covered, followed by eight clusters in nine mandals in 2027-28, and seven clusters in 11 mandals in 2028-29.
The Collector said ₹620.40 crore had been earmarked for micro-irrigation to improve water use efficiency, ₹383.74 crore for promotion of demand-driven crops such as exotic fruits, vegetables, flowers and oil palm, and ₹162.80 crore for productivity enhancement through rejuvenation of old orchards, pruning, mulching and integrated pest and nutrient management.
Another ₹28.85 crore will be allocated for Good Agricultural Practices, traceability and certification, ₹77.11 crore for market infrastructure such as collection centres, warehouses and pack-houses, and ₹84.96 crore for post-harvest management, cold storages, ripening chambers, reefer transport and processing units.
The plan also includes ₹23 crore for FPOs and agri-startups, ₹21 crore for quality planting material and nurseries, ₹17.21 crore for farm mechanisation, ₹17.40 crore for training and capacity building, ₹16.13 crore for technology extension and ₹67.09 crore for other cluster-specific activities.
Published – September 30, 2026 08:50 pm IST
