Rayalaseema on cusp of farm-to-market revolution

Madanapalle: Calling for a strategic shift from traditional farming to an integrated farm-to-market system, Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has declared that the proposed Global Horticulture Hub (GHH) and the Indian School of Agriculture (ISA) would create new opportunities for farmers and strengthen the agriculture ecosystem across Rayalaseema and adjoining districts.

Naidu was speaking at the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the GHH and ISA at Madanapalle in Annamayya district on Friday. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, Reliance Industries Executive Director Anant Ambani and Minister Nara Lokesh participated in the programme and unveiled a plaque on the occasion.

The GHH has been proposed at an estimated cost of Rs 1 lakh crore, with Rs 40,000 crore planned through central government support and Rs 60,000 crore through private investment. The project will cover eight districts of Rayalaseema, besides Prakasam and Markapuram districts.

Naidu said 5,860 villages would be developed into 201 horticulture clusters, while horticulture cultivation would be expanded by another six lakh acres. The hub is envisaged as a comprehensive platform supporting farmers from production and marketing to processing and exports. It will also focus on improving crop and price stability and expanding market access.

The Chief Minister said horticulture currently contributes around Rs 1.50 lakh crore to the State’s GVA, with the government targeting an additional Rs 1 lakh crore through the sector. Crops such as apples, strawberries, bananas, avocados, kiwis, and dates would be promoted in accordance with the local agro-climatic conditions.

Food processing, agri-tech, logistics, and agricultural infrastructure will form key components of the hub. A seed-to-shipment system will provide support across the entire supply chain, helping farmers improve productivity, market access, and income stability.

Naidu also stressed the importance of irrigation for Rayalaseema’s agricultural growth. He said the Handri-Neeva and the Galeru-Nagari projects were being taken up and 36 priority irrigation projects would be completed within three years at a cost of Rs 35,000 crore. He said climate change and El Nino conditions were posing new challenges and called for a water grid on the lines of power and road networks.

The ISA, being established with Reliance Industries’ support, will complement the GHH by focusing on agriculture, horticulture, modern technology, research, and artificial intelligence. Naidu said the institution would develop professionals with leadership and technical skills required for the future of agriculture. He sought greater participation from Reliance in agricultural research, agri-tech, logistics, and infrastructure.

Nirmala Sitharaman described the launch of the GHH as “an example of Centre-State cooperation”. In the context, she highlighted measures in which states can cooperate with the Union government for maximising benefits to the state concerned, including PM-KISAN, fertiliser subsidies, climate-resilient crop varieties, PM-KUSUM, the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, and the Gobardhan initiative. She said the Centre was subsidising urea to ensure farmers received it at affordable prices.

The Union Finance Minister also appreciated Reliance for establishing the ISA, saying it could support farmers on the lines of the Indian School of Business. Ananth Ambani said he wanted to contribute to Andhra Pradesh’s development and sought Naidu’s guidance. Naidu responded saying that Ambani would be regarded as “a son of Andhra Pradesh” and expressed his hope that Reliance would play a larger role in the state’s development.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Pradeep Vennelakanti

[email protected]