Archive · 2 Oct 2026
Centre and Andhra Pradesh Plan Global Horticulture Hub
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the government wants farmers to earn more money.
She spoke at an event in Madanapalli, Andhra Pradesh.
The government said it is helping farmers through schemes such as PM-KISAN, PM-KUSUM and GOBARdhan.
It also said farmers pay about ₹300 for a bag of urea that costs around ₹3,000 internationally.
The government pays the remaining amount as a subsidy.
Andhra Pradesh plans to build a large horticulture hub across 10 districts.
The plan could bring investments of ₹1 lakh crore and expand farming by six lakh acres.
A new Indian School of Agriculture is also being established to help farmers.
The project will focus on crops such as bananas, avocados, kiwis, dates, apples and strawberries.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the Centre is working to improve incomes for all farmers.
The Centre said Indian farmers receive urea at about ₹300 per bag, supported by a ₹2,700 subsidy.
Andhra Pradesh plans a ₹1 lakh crore Global Horticulture Hub across 10 districts and 5,860 villages.
The project is expected to expand horticulture cultivation by six lakh acres and add ₹1 lakh crore to GVA.
An Indian School of Agriculture, established by Reliance in Madanapalli, is intended to support farmers.
- Who
- Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, and the Central and Andhra Pradesh governments.
- What
- The governments announced farmer-support measures and plans for a ₹1 lakh crore Global Horticulture Hub and an Indian School of Agriculture.
- When
- The event was held on Friday and the report was published on October 2, 2026.
- Where
- Madanapalli and the 10 districts of Andhra Pradesh, including Rayalaseema.
- Why
- The initiatives aim to improve farmer incomes, expand horticulture and transform drought-prone Rayalaseema.
- Urea price for farmers
- About ₹300 per bag in India.
- Urea subsidy
- The Centre provides about ₹2,700 per bag.
- Planned horticulture investment
- ₹1 lakh crore, including ₹40,000 crore with Central support and ₹60,000 crore in private investment.
- Project coverage
- 5,860 villages organised into 201 clusters across 10 districts.
- Additional cultivation
- Horticulture cultivation is planned to expand by six lakh acres.
- Existing horticulture GVA
- Horticulture currently generates around ₹1.5 lakh crore in gross value added.
- Expected additional GVA
- The Global Horticulture Hub is expected to add another ₹1 lakh crore.