Andhra Pradesh Launches Rs 1 Lakh Crore Horticulture Hub, AI-Powered Farm School
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In a massive push to transform Andhra Pradesh's drought-prone Rayalaseema region, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday, October 2, laid the foundation for the Rs 1 lakh crore Global Horticulture Hub (GHH) and the Indian School of Agriculture (ISA) in Madanapalle. This ambitious project aims to turn Rayalaseema into India's 'fruit bowl' by dramatically boosting horticultural production and exports. At the core of this initiative is a comprehensive 'seed-to-shipment' model, designed to support nearly a million farmers from cultivation to global markets, including significant investments in irrigation infrastructure and food processing units. The GHH, backed by Rs 40,352 crore in government funds and Rs 60,000 crore from private investment, will span ten districts, aiming to nearly double horticulture cultivation area and output by June 2029. Complementing this is the Indian School of Agriculture, a first-of-its-kind institution modeled after the Indian School of Business, which will focus on cutting-edge agricultural technology, including Artificial Intelligence and precision farming, with Reliance Industries partnering in its development. The immediate focus will be on developing 201 clusters across 303 mandals, promoting high-value crops like dragon fruit and avocado, and strengthening farmer producer organisations. With irrigation projects underway to tackle historical water scarcity, stakeholders are now watching for the effective implementation of this Public-Private Partnership model and how quickly it translates into tangible economic benefits for the region's farmers, especially given the state's severe drought conditions exacerbated by events like the El Nino effect.