Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy CM K. Pawan Kalyan, Reliance Executive Director Anant Ambani, and Nara Lokesh during the launch of Horticulture Hub, at Madanapalle in Annamayya district on Friday.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Rayalaseema will be known for its development and horticulture potential rather than its drought legacy, Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan has said.
Speaking at a public meeting after the launch of the ₹1 lakh crore “Global Horticulture Hub – Rayalaseema Rising” project and the foundation stone laying for the Indian School of Agriculture here on Friday (October 2, 2026), Mr. Pawan Kalyan said the three-phase plan would bring together irrigation, horticulture, rural roads, cold storage, processing, logistics and exports. “The project covers 10 districts through 201 clusters, with ₹40,352 crore in government investment and about ₹60,000 crore expected from private investors,” he said.
“We have plans to expand horticulture cultivation from 8.41 lakh hectares to 14.41 lakh hectares and increase production from 222 lakh metric tonnes to 435 lakh metric tonnes. The project will directly benefit around 9.6 lakh farmers, while irrigation works will create 9 lakh acres of new ayacut and stabilise another 4.3 lakh acres,” he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister said Rayalaseema had already demonstrated its potential through a wide range of crops. He said water conservation works had also strengthened the region’s water security.
Focus on exports: Lokesh
Minister for HRD Nara Lokesh said the idea for the horticulture hub emerged during his Yuva Galam padayatra, when he travelled 1,587 km across Rayalaseema and interacted with farmers. The hub would undertake research spanning seeds, productivity, cold storage, packaging, mechanisation and natural farming, to take Rayalaseema’s produce beyond other States to international markets.
The proposed Indian School of Agriculture, being developed with Reliance Industries’ support, would focus on digital agriculture, precision farming, crop monitoring, smart irrigation, scientific research and market intelligence. Lokesh said the institution should help develop varieties suited for global demand and enable farmers to participate more effectively in international value chains.
Ministers Payyavula Keshav, Kinjarapu Atchannaidu, BJP State president P.V.N. Madhav, Reliance Industries Executive Director Anant Ambani, and Annamayya district Collector Nishant Kumar, among others, were present.
Published – October 02, 2026 08:50 pm IST
