Amaravati: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said the Global Horticulture Hub planned in Andhra Pradesh could open up new opportunities for farmers and give a fresh push to the state’s horticulture sector.
Sitharaman made the remarks after the foundation stone for the project was laid at Madanapalle in Annamayya district on Friday. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan were also present at the event.
The proposed hub will focus on strengthening horticulture in the Rayalaseema region, with better infrastructure, modern farming methods, improved water management and stronger links to markets. Sitharaman said these measures could help farmers improve productivity and increase their earnings.
The project is planned across 10 districts and will be developed through 201 clusters covering 303 mandals and 5,869 villages. The government has estimated an overall investment of around ₹1 lakh crore, with the project to be implemented in three phases.
The hub will focus on important crops grown in the region, including mango, banana, tomato and pomegranate. The plan also seeks to expand the area under horticulture and increase overall production, with the government estimating that nearly 9.6 lakh farmers could benefit directly.
Sitharaman also highlighted the role of technology in improving farming. She said climate-resilient crop varieties, scientific methods, better irrigation and solar-powered farm equipment could help farmers deal with changing weather conditions and improve farm efficiency.
Alongside the horticulture hub, the foundation stone was also laid for the Indian School of Agriculture. The institution is expected to focus on research, innovation and technology-based farming, with areas such as precision agriculture, digital farming, smart irrigation, crop monitoring and market intelligence.
Sitharaman said the Centre and Andhra Pradesh government are working together to develop the state into a major horticulture centre. She also referred to central schemes such as PM-KISAN, crop insurance and PM-KUSUM while speaking about support available to farmers.
The initiative is being positioned as a major effort to strengthen Rayalaseema’s agricultural economy by improving production, technology, infrastructure and market access for farmers.
