Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday, 2 October laid the foundation stone for the Global Horticulture Hub at Madanapalle in Annamayya district, announcing a ₹1 lakh crore investment to transform the drought-prone Rayalaseema region into what he called a global 'fruit bowl'. The project is expected to directly benefit 9.6 lakh farmers across 10 districts of the region.

Key Developments at the Foundation-Stone Ceremony

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, and Human Resource Development Minister Nara Lokesh were present at the public meeting. The foundation stone for the Indian School of Agriculture (ISA) at Madanapalle was also laid on the same occasion. Chief Minister Naidu thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sitharaman for the Centre's financial support, noting that Sitharaman 'provides funds whenever the state requests them.'

Project Scale and Funding Structure

The Global Horticulture Hub will be implemented in three phases with a total outlay of ₹1 lakh crore. Of this, the Centre will contribute ₹40,352 crore, while the remaining ₹60,000 crore is to be mobilised from the private sector. Development works will be carried out through 201 clusters across 303 mandals and 5,869 villages in the districts of Anantapur, Annamayya, Chittoor, Kurnool, Nandyal, Sri Sathya Sai, Tirupati, Kadapa, Prakasam, and Markapuram.

Agricultural Targets and Irrigation Plans

The project aims to expand the current horticulture cultivation area from 8.41 lakh hectares by an additional 6 lakh hectares, taking the total to 14.41 lakh hectares. Horticultural production is targeted to nearly double — from the current 222 lakh tonnes to 435 lakh tonnes. The plan also includes creating an additional irrigation ayacut of 9 lakh acres and stabilising irrigation facilities across 4.3 lakh acres.

Rayalaseema's Drought Legacy and the Turnaround Pitch

Chief Minister Naidu highlighted that Anantapur is the second-driest district in the country and had previously faced near-desert conditions. He recalled that irrigation projects originally initiated by former Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao were completed by his government, and pointed to the introduction of technologies such as drip irrigation and water-conservation measures to raise groundwater levels. 'Throughout my five-decade political career, I have been called the 'Hi-tech CM' and 'CEO CM'; now, I am recognised as the 'Water Man'. This brings me great happiness,' Naidu said. With the new hub, he expressed confidence that farmers of Rayalaseema could cultivate crops ranging from apples and strawberries to avocados, kiwis, and dates.

Indian School of Agriculture: The Education Angle

The ISA, to be established at Madanapalle, is envisioned as a premier institution for agricultural leadership — comparable in ambition, Naidu said, to what the IIMs do for management and IITs for technology. The school is expected to play a pivotal role in skilling the next generation of horticulture professionals, directly supporting the hub's long-term sustainability.

The twin announcements mark one of the largest agri-infrastructure commitments in Andhra Pradesh's recent history; execution timelines and private-sector mobilisation benchmarks will be closely watched as the project moves into its first phase.