Amaravati: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced plans to transform Rayalaseema into a global fruit bowl by developing it as a world-class horticulture hub. The Integrated Horticulture Hub programme will be launched on October 2 at Madanapalle in Annamayya district, where the foundation stone will also be laid for the Indian School of Agriculture.
The Chief Minister directed officials to transform the drought-prone Rayalaseema region into a global centre for horticultural crops. He said the Rayalaseema Integrated Horticulture Hub would be developed across 10 districts, including erstwhile Prakasam district, through 201 clusters.
Reviewing the proposed horticulture hub and the impact of El Niño at Secretariat today, the Chief Minister said development works involving nearly Rs 1 lakh crore would be taken up under a public-private partnership model. Of this, the government would invest ₹40,000 crore and the private sector ₹60,000 crore.
Recalling the severe drought and rainfall deficiency that had affected Rayalaseema in the past, the Chief Minister said several initiatives had now created a more favourable environment for agriculture. Water was being brought to the drought-prone region through micro-irrigation, Handri-Neeva and Galeru-Nagari projects, besides the construction of farm ponds and check dams.He said water had been taken through the Handri-Neeva canal for nearly 660 km up to Kuppam. With industries ranging from Kia to AMCA defence projects coming up in the region, Rayalaseema had witnessed industrial transformation, and the horticulture sector should now drive the next phase of economic transformation.The region, he said, was turning its drought into an opportunity and moving from distress towards development.
The Chief Minister directed officials to integrate horticultural crops, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), food-processing industries and marketing systems across 201 clusters in 10 districts.He called for strengthening FPOs at cluster, constituency, district and State levels. Farmers should be encouraged to form FPOs and collectively market their produce, following a model similar to the cooperation seen among DWCRA groups.Farmers should be given awareness about new crop varieties, food-processing opportunities and marketing avenues. They should be encouraged to focus on crops with strong international demand and tap global market opportunities for the wide variety of fruits produced in Rayalaseema.The Chief Minister set a target of taking Rayalaseema to the next level through the Integrated Horticulture Hub over the next five to six years.
The Chief Minister said it was particularly significant that the Integrated Horticulture Hub would be launched on October 2, Gandhi Jayanti. The foundation stone for the Indian School of Agriculture would also be laid on the occasion.He said the objective was to create a horticulture ecosystem capable of taking Andhra Pradesh’s horticultural produce to international markets.Farmers from all 201 clusters across Rayalaseema and erstwhile Prakasam district should participate virtually in the launch programme, he directed.Exhibitions and cluster-level programmes should be organised at more than 3,000 Rythu Seva Kendras to mark the launch in a festive atmosphere. Cultural programmes reflecting Rayalaseema’s heritage, workshops and tractor rallies should also be organised at the cluster level.The Chief Minister asked officials to highlight the transformation in farmers’ lives brought about by horticulture cultivation, including increased incomes and improved living standards resulting from the adoption of new crops.
The Chief Minister also reviewed measures to reduce the impact of El Niño on agriculture and directed officials to prepare an alternative crop plan based on production, consumption and trade opportunities.It was decided to approach the Centre on cultivation and procurement of crops such as chickpea, black gram, green gram, red gram, ragi, maize, jowar and onion, as well as on Minimum Support Prices. He directed the Agriculture Department to use AI-based analytical systems to identify which crops would provide maximum benefit to farmers and consumers in different regions.He also called for advance measures to prevent inflation. Prices of 14 categories of crops, including pulses and millets, should be continuously monitored. A balanced approach should be adopted to ensure remunerative prices for farmers while protecting consumers from excessive price burdens.
The Chief Minister reviewed rainfall and crop cultivation with the Collectors of Nandyal, Kurnool, Annamayya, Chittoor, Markapuram, Sri Sathya Sai, Anantapur and Kadapa districts.
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