FM Sitharaman to launch ₹1 trn Rayalaseema horticulture hub this Friday

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will lay the foundation stone for the ambitious ₹1 trillion Rayalaseema Horticulture Hub at Madanapalle on Friday.

The plan includes a synchronised public investment framework integrating irrigation (₹20,884 crore), horticulture (₹14,906 crore), and rural roads (₹4,562 crore) across three years (2026-2029).

"Out of the total ₹1 trillion, about ₹40,352 crore is public investment and about ₹60,000 crore is expected from the private sector. The plan brings together irrigation, horticulture, rural roads and value-chain infrastructure. It will be implemented in three phases from August 2026 to July 2029 across 201 clusters in 10 districts," said a government note.

The aim is to expand horticulture to 1.44 million hectares, nearly double production, and improve the incomes and livelihoods of about 9.6 lakh farmers. This is part of a larger roadmap by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to unlock the agricultural potential of Rayalaseema by shifting from low-value rainfed crops to a climate-resilient, high-value horticulture-led economy.

The execution of the project is structured across three annual phases and six semi-annual implementation packages (IP1 to IP6) to align water availability with crop expansion and logistics. The first phase of the project, till July 2027, will see an investment of ₹12,066 crore and will focus on completing reservoirs, lifts, and tanks to unlock immediate water availability, activating 72 initial clusters, and constructing high-impact last-mile rural roads. The second phase will be between August 2027 and July 2028, with an investment of ₹15,036 crore, while the third phase, between August 2028 and July 2029, will see an investment of ₹13,250