Rayalaseema region is set for a major horticulture expansion with the government preparing to launch a ₹1 lakh crore hub to expand fruit cultivation, boost production and link farms to export markets. The project will be formally launched at Madanapalle on Friday, with chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman participating in the programme. Deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan is also expected to attend.
The project is aimed at giving the region a stronger horticulture base and developing it into a major fruit producing and export region, with infrastructure planned massively -- from irrigation and cultivation to processing and logistics. The hub will cover 10 districts, 303 mandals and 5,869 villages through 201 clusters, with the government expecting that the project would directly benefit around 9.6 lakh farmers.
The plan is to expand horticulture cultivation from the existing 8.41 lakh hectares to 14.41 lakh hectares and increase production from 222 lakh metric tonnes to 435 lakh metric tonnes. A plan is alaso to create irrigation potential for about nine lakh acres and stabilise another 4.3 lakh acres. Of the `40,352 crore proposed through government funding, `20,884 crore would be spent on irrigation, `15,000 crore on horticulture development and `4,562 crore on roads. The government aims to attract around `60,000 crore in private investment, taking the overall proposed investment to about `1 lakh crore
The project will include development of irrigation systems and drip irrigation facilities, roads and logistics infrastructure, food processing units and export facilities. Private investment is expected in processing and export activities, creating a supply chain for horticultural produce. Mango, banana, tomato, pomegranate, dragon fruit, avocado and berries are among the crops proposed for promotion under the hub. The government has positioned the project as part of its plan to give Andhra Pradesh a “fruit bowl” identity alongside its traditional “rice bowl” image. The plan also aims at improving productivity and reducing losses between harvesting and final markets for local farmers.
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