Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday, 3 October 2025, said the Central government has broadened its support across agriculture and allied sectors by working in close coordination with state governments to strengthen rural livelihoods. Speaking at a public gathering in Madanapalle, Andhra Pradesh, Sitharaman outlined a range of Centre-backed initiatives designed to raise farm incomes and make agriculture more climate-resilient.

Key Developments on Agri Initiatives

The Finance Minister highlighted that mobile veterinary units and the deployment of veterinarians across districts are actively bolstering the dairy and fisheries sectors, opening new income streams for farmers and rural households. 'Working together with state governments, the Centre has expanded support across agriculture and allied sectors, deploying mobile veterinary units and veterinarians across districts to boost dairy and fisheries livelihoods,' she said.

Sitharaman also pointed to a cluster of farmer-centric Central schemes — the GOBARdhan initiative, which converts rural organic waste into clean biogas; solar-powered irrigation under PM-KUSUM; and crop insurance coverage through PM Fasal Bima Yojana — as pillars of the government's strategy to protect and empower farming communities.

The ₹1 Lakh Crore Global Horticulture Hub Vision

A centrepiece of the Andhra Pradesh development agenda, according to Sitharaman, is Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's ambitious plan to establish a world-class Global Horticulture Hub spanning 10 districts — including the eight districts of Rayalaseema and two adjoining districts — at an estimated outlay of ₹1 lakh crore. The Finance Minister said this initiative is being executed with the backing of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and multilateral institutions including the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and other agencies.

The project is designed to introduce advanced agricultural technologies, improve water-use efficiency, and raise overall farm productivity in a region that has historically been water-stressed.

Rayalaseema to 'Ratnala Seema': The Prosperity Vision

Sitharaman said both the Centre and the Andhra Pradesh government are committed to transforming Rayalaseema into what she described as 'Ratnala Seema' — meaning a land of prosperity — a transformation she attributed to the decisive mandate received by the NDA government in 2024. The region, long associated with drought and agrarian distress, is now being positioned as a horticulture export corridor underpinned by climate-resilient farming practices.

Climate-Resilient Agriculture and Water Efficiency

The Finance Minister stressed that the government is focused on ensuring every drop of water is used optimally in water-stressed regions through modern farming practices and targeted technological interventions. 'To make agriculture climate-resilient, scientifically developed seed varieties have been introduced to withstand extreme heat and dry spells,' she stated. This aligns with broader Central priorities around sustainable agriculture in arid and semi-arid zones across India.

What Comes Next

With multilateral financing from the World Bank and ADB in place and state-Centre coordination reportedly active, implementation timelines and district-level disbursement frameworks for the horticulture hub are expected to be detailed in the coming months. The success of the Rayalaseema turnaround will likely serve as a template for similarly distressed agricultural regions across India.