Naidu, Sitharaman to lay foundation for ₹1 lakh crore Rayalaseema Horticulture Hub at Madanapalle on October 2
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman are set to launch a ₹1 lakh crore horticulture hub in Madanapalle. The project includes an agricultural school focused on AI and climate-resilient farming, supported by private investment from Reliance.
Why it matters
This represents a significant economic development initiative aimed at transforming drought-prone regions through modern agricultural technology.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman are scheduled to lay the foundation stone for the proposed Rayalaseema Horticulture Hub at Madanapalle on October 2.
The Centre will provide ₹40,000 crore in various forms under the Purvodaya scheme for the project, and another ₹60,000 crore is expected to come through private investment, the State government said in a release on Wednesday (September 23, 2026).
The project will be implemented in the four erstwhile districts of Rayalaseema , besides Prakasam and Nellore districts. It is aimed at promoting horticulture-related activities in drought-prone areas and increasing farm incomes by creating opportunities in the horticulture sector.
The government said the project was being taken up alongside the completion of irrigation projects to provide water for agriculture in the region.
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