Union Budget Gives Major Push To Natural Farming, Infrastructure in AP

Vijayawada: Agriculture minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu has hailed the Union Budget as a balanced, inclusive and forward-looking blueprint that provides a decisive push to natural farming, infrastructure development and the state's long-term economic growth.

The minister said the Centre’s strong emphasis on natural farming, with an allocation of ₹155.32 crore for its expansion in AP, reflected the central government’s vision for the future. He congratulated finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman for presenting a “farmer-centric budget that provides clear direction to the country’s agriculture sector.”

Atchannaidu noted that natural farming would not only enhance farmers’ incomes but also help preserve soil health and ecological balance. “For an agriculture-dependent state like Andhra Pradesh, these allocations are extremely beneficial. With coordinated efforts by the Centre and the state, natural farming can be taken forward as a mass movement,” he said.

Referring to crop diversification, Atchannaidu described the Centre’s push for high-value crops as a visionary step. Incentives for crops such as coconut and sandalwood, particularly in coastal regions, would yield long-term benefits, he said.

Special schemes to increase coconut production and replace old, unproductive trees with new saplings would significantly improve plantation productivity.

Roads minister B.C. Janardhan Reddy said the Budget accorded equitable importance to all sections and sectors. He lauded the allocation of nearly ₹1,560 crore for infrastructure development in Amaravati, calling it a timely boost.

The ₹3,320 crore allocation for the Polavaram project underlined the priority being given to irrigation. He also welcomed allocations of ₹350 crore for rebuilding roads and bridges, ₹500.99 crore for rural road projects, and ₹800 crore for drinking water supply and sewage management in urban areas.

Janardhan Reddy noted that the focus on infrastructure would indirectly attract investments into the state. He highlighted proposals such as rare earth mineral corridors in five states, high-speed corridors linking Hyderabad with Bengaluru and Chennai, tax holidays for data centres till 2047, new waterways, coastal cargo promotion schemes, dedicated flight corridors and logistics reforms, all of which would significantly enhance Andhra Pradesh’s industrial and economic prospects.

Both ministers expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the NDA government for standing firmly behind Andhra Pradesh’s development. They asserted that under the leadership of Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan, the coalition government would steer the state towards becoming a frontrunner across sectors.