Andhra Pradesh CM and Union Finance Minister launch ₹1 lakh-crore global horticulture hub project at Madanapalle

Key facts

• Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman laid the foundation for a ₹1 lakh-crore global horticulture hub at Madanapalle in Annamayya district, and also laid the foundation stone for the Indian School of Agriculture (ISA).
• The Horticulture Hub will be implemented in three phases with an estimated investment of ₹1 lakh crore, with the TDP-led NDA government contributing ₹40,352 crore and efforts to mobilise ₹60,000 crore from the private sector.
• The project will cover 10 districts — Anantapur, Annamayya, Chittoor, Kurnool, Nandyal, Sri Sathya Sai, Tirupati, Kadapa, Prakasam and Markapuram — through 201 clusters across 303 mandals and 5,869 villages.
• The government plans to expand horticulture cultivation from 8.41 lakh hectares to 14.41 lakh hectares and raise production from 222 lakh metric tonnes to 435 lakh metric tonnes, directly benefiting 9.6 lakh farmers.
• The ISA, modelled on the Indian School of Business, will advance agricultural development through modern technology, research and innovation, with Reliance Industries Limited partnering the state government to establish and manage the institution.
• The ISA will provide technology-driven guidance to farmers, focusing on modern technology, scientific research, digital agriculture, precision farming, crop monitoring, smart irrigation and market intelligence.