Naidu, Sitharaman to lay foundation for ₹1 lakh crore Rayalaseema

The Andhra Pradesh government has scheduled the foundation stone ceremony for the proposed Rayalaseema Horticulture Hub at Madanapalle on October 2, with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman set to attend.

The State government said in a release on Wednesday (September 23, 2026) that the Centre will provide ₹40,000 crore in various forms under the Purvodaya scheme for the project.

Another ₹60,000 crore is expected to come through private investment, the government said.

Project to cover Rayalaseema, Prakasam and Nellore

The project will be implemented in the four erstwhile districts of Rayalaseema, besides Prakasam and Nellore districts.

The government has described the hub as an initiative aimed at promoting horticulture-related activities in drought-prone areas.

It is also intended to increase farm incomes by creating opportunities in the horticulture sector.

The State government said the project is being taken up alongside the completion of irrigation projects to provide water for agriculture in the region.

This links the horticulture plan with the government’s stated focus on water availability for agriculture in the same region.

Indian School of Agriculture to be launched

The Indian School of Agriculture will also be launched at Madanapalle as part of the programme.

The institution is being established by Reliance and is intended to provide training and education in agriculture.

The school forms part of the Rayalaseema Integrated Horticulture Development Plan.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu told Ms. Sitharaman in July that the institution would focus on artificial intelligence and digital tools in farming, climate-resilient agriculture, post-harvest systems and market intelligence.

He had sought the Centre’s support for it in July.

The State signed a memorandum of understanding with the Reliance Group for the school on August 3.

Naidu’s programmes from September 29 to October 3

Mr. Naidu is scheduled to take part in a series of programmes from September 29 to October 3.

On September 29, he will attend the Department of Personnel and Training Karmayogi Mission programme in Vijayawada in the morning.

The same day, he will attend the Palle Panduga programme at Udayagiri in Nellore district in the afternoon.

On September 30, he will participate in the distribution of house-site pattas to 24,000 beneficiaries in Vijayawada.

On October 1, he will attend the ‘Pedala Sevalo’ programme and distribute pensions.

On October 2, after laying the foundation stone for the hub at Madanapalle, he will participate in the Swarna Andhra-Swachh Andhra programme.

He will also attend the annual Swachh Andhra programme in Vijayawada to mark Gandhi Jayanti.

On October 3, the Chief Minister will participate in the PanIIT conference in Vijayawada.

The Madanapalle event is therefore placed within a five-day schedule that includes administrative, welfare, sanitation and conference-related programmes in Vijayawada, Udayagiri and Madanapalle.

Source: The Hindu