Chittoor district will receive ₹1,529.69 crore under the Rayalaseema Integrated Horticulture Development Plan, a move aimed at strengthening the region’s horticulture sector.
District Collector Sumit Kumar said the plan was notified by the Agriculture and Cooperation (H&S) department to transform Rayalaseema, Prakasam and Markapuram into a Global Horticulture Hub. The programme will be formally launched at Madanapalle on October 2 by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Implementation will span three years across 20 clusters covering 27 mandals. The first phase (2026‑27) will cover five clusters in seven mandals, the second (2027‑28) eight clusters in nine mandals, and the final phase (2028‑29) seven clusters in 11 mandals.
The financial allocation is detailed as follows: ₹620.40 crore for micro‑irrigation, ₹3,883.74 crore for promotion of demand‑driven crops such as exotic fruits, vegetables, flowers and oil palm, and ₹1,562.80 crore for productivity enhancement through orchard rejuvenation, pruning, mulching and integrated pest and nutrient management. Additional funds include ₹928.85 crore for Good Agricultural Practices, traceability and certification, ₹77.11 crore for market infrastructure, ₹84.96 crore for post‑harvest management, ₹23 crore for FPOs and agri‑startups, ₹21 crore for quality planting material and nurseries, ₹17.21 crore for farm mechanisation, ₹17.40 crore for training and capacity building, ₹16.13 crore for technology extension, and ₹67.09 crore for other cluster‑specific activities.
