Amaravati, Oct 1 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan will launch the Global Horticulture Hub, a project with an estimated investment of about Rs 1 lakh crore, at Madanapalle on Friday.
The project will be implemented in three phases, with the TDP-led NDA government contributing Rs 40,352 crore and efforts being made to mobilise Rs 60,000 crore from the private sector, a press release said on Thursday.
The project will cover Anantapur, Annamayya, Chittoor, Kurnool, Nandyal, Sri Sathya Sai, Tirupati, Kadapa, Prakasam and Markapuram districts.
Development works will be undertaken through 201 clusters spread across 303 mandals and 5,869 villages in the 10 districts.
The government plans to expand the existing horticulture cultivation area of 8.41 lakh hectares by another six lakh hectares, taking the total to 14.41 lakh hectares.
The project aims to increase horticultural production from the current 222 lakh metric tonnes to 435 lakh metric tonnes, directly benefiting 9.6 lakh farmers, the release said.
As part of the initiative, an additional ayacut of nine lakh acres will be created, while irrigation facilities covering 4.3 lakh acres will be stabilised.
Of the Rs 40,352 crore to be provided by the state government, Rs 20,884 crore will be allocated for irrigation, Rs 15,000 crore for horticulture development and Rs 4,562 crore for roads.
Major irrigation projects, drip irrigation systems, road infrastructure and logistics facilities will be developed as part of the comprehensive plan.
The proposed Global Horticulture Hub is envisioned to establish the Rayalaseema region as the country’s fruit bowl, the release said.
Special emphasis will be placed on crops such as mango, banana, tomato, pomegranate, dragon fruit, avocado and berries.
The government will also encourage private-sector investment in food processing plants and export infrastructure to add value to agricultural produce and improve farmers’ incomes.
Naidu has been closely monitoring the development of the Global Horticulture Hub for nearly six months, holding regular review meetings with the Agriculture, Horticulture, Finance and Irrigation departments.
Through sustained consultations with the Centre, he has worked towards realising the project, the release said.
As part of the Rayalaseema Rising initiative, the Global Horticulture Hub is being developed to drive horticultural growth, strengthen rural infrastructure and create new economic opportunities across the region.
The three leaders will also lay the foundation stone for the Indian School of Agriculture (ISA) in Madanapalle.
Modelled on the Indian School of Business, which has played a significant role in promoting industrial and business education, the proposed institution will focus on advancing agriculture through modern technology, research and innovation.
Responding to Naidu’s initiative, Reliance Industries Limited has come forward to collaborate with the state government in establishing and managing the institution.
The ISA will provide technology-driven guidance to farmers and develop solutions to address key challenges in the agricultural sector.
It will focus on modern technology, scientific research, digital agriculture, precision farming, crop monitoring, smart irrigation and market intelligence.
The institution is expected to serve as a centre for agricultural innovation, equipping farmers with advanced knowledge, technological solutions and market-oriented practices to improve productivity, sustainability and profitability in agriculture and allied sectors, the release added. PTI STH SSK
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