Rayalaseema Rising: AP Government Launching ₹1 Lakh Crore Horticulture Mission
Andhra Pradesh is launching the Global Horticulture Hub – Rayalaseema Rising project to transform Rayalaseema into a major national and international horticulture centre. The ₹1 lakh crore initiative will focus on production, processing and exports, with the formal launch scheduled in Madanapalle today, on October 2 in the presence of Central Finance Minister Nirmala Seetharaman along with AP Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan.
The State plans to mobilise ₹40,000 crore through public investment over the next three to four years and attract nearly ₹60,000 crore from private investors through the PPP model. The programme will cover 201 horticulture clusters across 10 districts, creating integrated production, processing, storage and marketing ecosystems.
The master plan targets expansion of horticultural cultivation to 14.41 lakh hectares and aims to improve incomes for around 9.6 lakh farmers. Proposed investments include ₹20,884 crore for irrigation, ₹14,906 crore for horticulture and ₹4,562 crore for rural roads, alongside substantial private sector participation.
The project proposes creating new irrigation potential for nine lakh acres while stabilising another 4.3 lakh acres. Around 5,721 kilometres of rural roads are planned to strengthen farm to market connectivity. Drip irrigation, sprinklers and fertigation will be expanded to improve water efficiency and support higher agricultural productivity.
High value crops including mango, banana, tomato, pomegranate, dates and dragon fruit will receive greater attention. The government also plans grading, sorting, packaging, cold storage and food processing infrastructure, while promoting products such as mango pulp, banana powder, chips, tomato puree, chilli oleoresin and dehydrated fruits.
The first phase covers 72 clusters, with cultivation expansion planned across 72,789 hectares. Micro irrigation is also targeted for another 78,082 hectares, alongside polyhouses, drones, boom sprayers, intercropping and controlled environment farming. Officials project significant employment and economic gains, with the broader programme aiming to reposition Rayalaseema as India’s Fruit Bowl.
