Naidu, Sitharaman launch Rayalaseema horticulture hub; Anant Ambani pledges ₹1 lakh crore for biogas in Andhra
The Chief Minister promises irrigation, processing and export support to make the drought-prone region a ‘global fruit bowl’; Reliance, which will run the new Indian School of Agriculture, announces ₹1 lakh crore for biogas plants
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated a ₹1-lakh crore 'Global Horticulture Hub - Rayalaseema Rising' project and the Indian School of Agriculture in Madanapalle on October 2, 2026. The project aims to transform Rayalaseema, a region historically known for drought and water scarcity, into a land of prosperity by providing irrigation, technology, processing, and export support to its farmers.
The hub will cover 5,860 villages in 201 clusters across 10 districts, with an additional six lakh acres brought under horticulture. The project includes a three-phase implementation plan, with an aim to increase horticultural production from 222 lakh tonnes to 435 lakh tonnes. About ₹40,000 crore of the project cost will be funded by the government, while ₹60,000 crore will come from private investment.
The Indian School of Agriculture, modeled after the Indian School of Business, will provide technology-driven guidance to farmers and focus on digital agriculture, precision farming, crop monitoring, smart irrigation, and market intelligence. Reliance Industries has pledged ₹1 lakh crore for biogas plants in the region, creating over three lakh jobs and generating nearly ₹60,000 crore.
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