A.P govt. plans to set up clusters to promote 11 horticulture crops

Andhra Pradesh government promotes horticulture clusters to boost economy, increase crop size, quality produce, and export opportunities.

Andhra Pradesh government, in its Agriculture Budget 2025-26 presented in the Assembly on Friday (February 28, 2025), proposed cluster-based promotion of horticulture crops, depending on local climatic conditions, market demands and other relevant factors.  

The government aims to boost the economy through these clusters by creating favourable export conditions. As part of this initiative, the government is committed to providing subsidies to farmers to increase crop size and encourage quality produce for the best prices. 

Horticultural crops such as banana, mango, cashew, chilli and others would be encouraged and the international market would be developed for these farmers. The government also plans to use product tracking technology for benefit of consumers. 

While tabling the Agriculture Budget, Agriculture Minister K. Atchannaidu said, “As part of the Swarna Andhra 2047 Vision, an action plan has been prepared to promote 11 horticultural crops with the highest Gross Vale Added (GVA) in cluster mode. Cropwise clusters are selected to achieve an annual growth rate of more than 15%. Special funds will be allocated from the National Horticulture Board for setting up these clusters, ”. 

The Andhra Pradesh government sanctioned a banana cluster for Anantapur district and accorded permission to float a Request For Proposal (RFP) to identify the implementing agencies, he said.

“Similarly, cluster proposals are being prepared for other crops and will be submitted to the Central government. Proposals are being prepared for mango clusters in Chittoor, Annamayya and Tirupati districts; cashew clusters in Srikakulam and ASR and Parvathipuram-Manyam districts; coconut clusters in Srikakulam, East Godavari, Konaseema districts; oil palm and cocoa clusters in Eluru and East Godavari districts; and chilly cluster in Prakasam and Guntur districts,” Mr. Atchannaidu said.  

These new initiatives will help increase farmers’ income and generate revenue for the State government, the Minister said and suggested the farmers to make use of various schemes available for the development of horticulture sector.