Horticulture hub in the making

Vijayawada: Agriculture and Horticulture Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu has said the state government has prepared a comprehensive action plan, ‘Global Horticulture Hub – Rayalaseema Rising’, to transform the drought-prone Rayalaseema region into a major horticultural production, processing, and export centre.

Talking to ‘The Hans India’ in his camp office in Vijayawada on Saturday, the Minister said that the Integrated Horticulture Development Plan (IHDP) aims to connect water security, crop production and markets as per a unified strategy, enabling farmers to shift from low-income rain-fed crops to high-value horticultural crops requiring less water. The initiative seeks to address the region’s recurring droughts, limited rainfall, irrigation shortages, and inadequate market connectivity through an integrated approach.

Atchannaidu said investments totalling approximately Rs 1 lakh crore had been proposed, including Rs 40,352 crore from the public sector and around Rs 60,000 crore from private investors. The public investment comprises Rs 20,884 crore for irrigation, Rs 14,906 crore for horticulture, and Rs 4,562 crore for rural roads.

The programme will be implemented in three phases from August 2026 to July 2029, covering 201 clusters across 10 districts. The government aims to expand the area under horticulture to 14.41 lakh hectares, nearly double production and improve the incomes and living standards of around 9.6 lakh farmers.

The first phase, with an allocation of Rs 12,066 crore for 2026–27, will cover 72 clusters. The second phase will develop 67 clusters with an outlay of Rs 15,036 crore in 2027–28, while the third phase will cover the remaining 62 clusters with an outlay of Rs 13,250 crore in 2028–29.

Water security and market connectivity

The plan targets the creation of new irrigation potential across nearly nine lakh acres and stabilisation of another 4.3 lakh acres. Development of 5,721 km of rural roads has also been proposed to facilitate faster transportation of agricultural produce.

The government will promote micro-irrigation systems such as drip and sprinklers, fertigation, certified nurseries, quality planting material and modern agricultural practices to improve productivity and water-use efficiency.

The initiative will cover the entire value chain, from harvesting, grading and packaging to cold storage, processing, branding, transportation as well as domestic and international marketing. Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) will be strengthened and connected directly with processors, exporters, and retail markets.

Value-added products such as mango pulp, banana powder, chips, tomato puree, chilli oleoresin and dehydrated fruits will receive priority to protect farmers from price fluctuations in fresh produce markets.

Banana exports offer a roadmap

Atchannaidu cited Andhra Pradesh’s banana exports as an example of the potential of the cluster-based approach. Exports, which stood at just 246 tonnes in 2016–17, have reportedly grown to more than one lakh tonnes from Anantapur to Iran, supported by quality standards, exporter participation, and improved logistics.

The government estimates that the integrated plan could generate additional Gross Value Added (GVA) of around Rs 81,000 crore annually from the third year onwards and create employment opportunities for approximately 19.7 lakh people.

The programme will focus on mango, banana, tomato, pomegranate, dates, dragon fruit, watermelon, citrus fruits, avocado, and other high-value crops.

Farmers should not have to wait for buyers after harvesting. Markets must reach farmers, and our produce should establish itself as a brand in global markets,” Atchannaidu said. He said the ultimate objective of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu was to transform Rayalaseema from a drought-prone region into the ‘Fruit Bowl of India’ and a globally competitive horticulture hub, generating higher farm incomes and expanding rural employment.

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MV Syam Sundar

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