Full Breakdown
Reliance and Andhra Pradesh Launch Global Horticulture Hub and Indian School of Agriculture
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Foundation Stone Laying in Madanapalle
- On October 2, 2026, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, and Reliance Industries Executive Director Anant Ambani jointly laid the foundation stone for the Global Horticulture Hub and the Indian School of Agriculture (ISA) in Madanapalle, Annamayya district.
Background & Context
- The project is presented as a cornerstone of the state’s effort to convert the drought-prone Rayalaseema region into a technology-driven horticultural zone and a “global fruit bowl.” It complements broader state initiatives on clean-energy, water-conservation and rural welfare.
Data & Statistics
- Rs 40,000 crore in government funding is earmarked for the horticulture hub, with an anticipated Rs 60,000 crore of private investment.
- Reliance Industries announced a Rs 1 trillion investment to set up compressed biogas (CBG) plants, projected to create over 3 lakh jobs and generate nearly Rs 60,000 crore in revenue over the coming decades.
- The hub will span 10 districts, covering 5,860 villages organized into 201 clusters, and aims to add six lakh acres of horticultural cultivation.
- The ISA will integrate artificial intelligence, robotics, cloud computing and precision farming to train farmers and rural youth, with digital programmes delivered through Jio in multiple Indian languages.
Official Statements & Responses
- Chief Minister Naidu called the initiative a historic programme that will turn Rayalaseema into a “global fruit bowl,” emphasizing an integrated ecosystem of horticulture, irrigation, processing, logistics and export markets.
- The state announced plans to complete 36 priority projects worth Rs 35,000 crore within three years, citing water-conservation schemes such as Handri-Neeva and Galeru-Nagari as critical to the hub’s success.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The Indian School of Agriculture (ISA) should help farmers become CEOs of their own farmlands,” — Mr. Anant Ambani, reliance industries executive
- “Consider me a son of Andhra Pradesh and guide me on what I can do for this beautiful State.” — Mr. Anant Ambani, reliance industries executive
- “I request you: Treat me as a son of Andhra,” — Anant Ambani, reliance industries executive
- “Today, the Rayalaseema Horticulture Hub, backed by Rs 40,000 crore, brings the rising sun of India's growth to Rayalaseema,” — Anant Ambani, reliance industries executive
- “Let us give them the skills, technology and enterprise to build successful futures in their own villages,” — Anant Ambani, reliance industries executive
Why It Matters
- By merging advanced agri-tech with traditional farming practices, the hub seeks to raise farmer incomes, generate substantial rural employment and reduce reliance on imported energy through CBG production.
- The scale of public and private investment positions Andhra Pradesh as a potential model for technology-enabled agriculture in India, aligning with national objectives of food security and renewable energy.
What’s Next
- The government intends to mobilize the projected Rs 60,000 crore of private investment and to launch the ISA’s digital training platform within the next few years. Further announcements on the rollout of CBG plants and the expansion of horticultural acreage are expected from state and Reliance officials.