₹1 Lakh Crore Global Horticulture Hub Foundation Stone Laid In Madanapalle
Project targets horticulture expansion, technology and farmer development across Rayalaseema.
The foundation stone for the proposed Rs 1 lakh-crore Global Horticulture Hub and the Indian School of Agriculture (ISA) was laid at BK Palli village in Madanapalle mandal on Friday. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and Reliance Industries Executive Director Anant Ambani jointly participated in the ceremony. The initiative is aimed at transforming the drought-prone Rayalaseema region into a major horticultural and agricultural hub.
The project, part of the Rayalaseema Rising initiative, will be implemented in three phases through a public-private partnership model. The funding plan includes Rs 40,352 crore from Central and state government allocations and a targeted private-sector investment of Rs 60,000 crore. The programme will cover 10 districts, including eight core Rayalaseema districts along with Prakasam and Markapuram, and will organise 5,869 villages across 303 mandals into 201 specialised horticultural clusters.
Andhra Pradesh plans to expand its horticultural area by six lakh hectares under the initiative, taking the total from the existing 8.41 lakh hectares to 14.41 lakh hectares. The state is targeting an increase in horticultural production from 222 lakh metric tonnes to 435 lakh metric tonnes. The planned investment includes Rs 20,284 crore for micro-irrigation and water management, Rs 15,000 crore for crop expansion and Rs 4,662 crore for rural connectivity, pack-houses, cold-chain facilities and export infrastructure.
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More than 9.6 lakh farming families, representing around 49 lakh people, are expected to benefit directly from the project. Addressing the gathering, Naidu said long-term water security would remain central to Rayalaseema’s development. He referred to the flow of around 1,600 TMC of Godavari floodwater into the sea and highlighted the Pattiseema project, which he said had enabled the diversion of 500 TMC to the Krishna Delta over the past decade.
Naidu also announced plans to dedicate 36 priority irrigation projects worth Rs 35,000 crore over the next three years. He said the Polavaram project would be completed next year and inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Chief Minister also said a formal proposal had been submitted to the Union Finance Minister concerning the interlinking of the Godavari and Cauvery rivers as part of efforts to address interstate water-sharing issues.
The event also marked the formal establishment of the Indian School of Agriculture in Madanapalle with institutional support from Reliance Industries. The proposed institution is intended to serve as a centre of excellence for the agricultural sector, incorporating artificial intelligence, precision farming and advanced scientific research. The project is being positioned as a major component of the broader Rayalaseema initiative, with the aim of combining agricultural infrastructure, technology and investment to expand the region’s horticultural economy.
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