Nirmala Sitharaman, AP CM Launch Global Horticulture Hub At Madanapalle

Later, addressing a public meeting, Sitharaman hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his contributions to the farmers and listed out several schemes such as Kishan Samman Nidhi and Kisan Credit Card.

She also mentioned providing urea to farmers without any shortage. Recalling the Covid-19 pandemic, she noted imported urea per sack was at Rs 3,000. However, the PM made sure that farmers would buy it at Rs 300 and the central government would bear the subsidy cost of Rs 2,700.

"Even now, the price of urea is roughly the same. However, PM Modi insisted that farmers should not pay more than Rs 300 (per sack)," she said.

The union minister further said that the prime minister brought 122 varieties of seeds which could withstand excess heat and also water shortage. Through the Gobardhan scheme, PM Modi created a system to generate bio-gas available within the villages, among other schemes, including insurance for farmers, she said.

Speaking on the occasion, CM Naidu observed that Rayalaseema region will be made a global horticulture hub and he had been explaining about the region to Sitharaman.

"Drought-prone Rayalaseema will become a land of riches. Will make it the fruit bowl of the world," Naidu said, adding that Rs 40,000 crore will be mobilised by the state with the Centre's help. The CM said 10 lakh farmers and 49 lakh families can eke out a living through the hub.

With this initiative, he said, Rayalaseema people will grow 20 kinds of fruits, ranging from apples, avocadoes, kiwis and others. Any place you go and ask where a particular fruit was grown, they will say Rayalaseema, he said.

Horticulture Hub will be implemented in three phases with an estimated investment of Rs 1 lakh crore. Of this, the TDP-led NDA government will contribute Rs 40,352 crore while efforts will be made to mobilise Rs 60,000 crore investments from the private sector.

The project will cover Anantapur, Annamayya, Chittoor, Kurnool, Nandyal, Sri Sathya Sai, Tirupati, Kadapa, Prakasam and Markapuram districts.

On the Indian School of Agriculture (ISA), the CM said it would create major reforms in the realm of agriculture and noted that Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has come forward for this initiative.

According to Naidu, he had called Dhirubhai Ambani while setting up the Indian School of Business (ISB) and now he thanked RIL chairman Mukesh Ambani and his son Anant Amabni for their "extraordinary" cooperation in setting up ISA.

Naidu requested Anant Ambani, executive director, RIL to extend export-oriented and market-linked processing for Rayalaseema produce and also create scientists through ISA. Further, the CM promised to complete the Polavaram Project and get it inaugurated by PM Modi.

Naidu emphasised that India lacks a 'water grid' and reminded that former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee wanted to interlink Ganga and Cauvery rivers. Referring to water disputes in South India, the CM pointed out that a lot of time was being wasted on this issue.

"Before linking Ganga and Cauvery, we should take up linking Godavari and Cauvery rivers, which will solve the water disputes of four southern state," he said. "If this can be achieved, there will be no water wars," he added.

Under the horticulture hub, development works will be undertaken through 201 clusters spread across 303 mandals and 5,869 villages in these 10 districts.

The government plans to expand the existing horticulture cultivation area of 8.41 lakh hectares by another six lakh hectares, taking the total to 14.41 lakh hectares. The project aims to increase horticultural production from the current 222 lakh metric tonne to 435 lakh metric tonne, directly benefiting 9.6 lakh farmers.

ISA, modelled on the lines of the Indian School of Business, which has played a significant role in promoting industrial and business education, will focus on advancing agricultural development through modern technology, research and innovation. RIL has come forward to work with the state government in establishing and managing the institution.

The ISA will provide technology-driven guidance to farmers and develop solutions to address key challenges in the agricultural sector. It will focus on modern technology, scientific research, digital agriculture, precision farming, crop monitoring, smart irrigation and market intelligence, among other activities.