Andhra Pradesh’s Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced plans for the world’s first dedicated Cocoa City, directing officials to find a suitable 250-acre location for the project. The city aims to serve as an experience center for progressive farmers. Additionally, the Chief Minister instructed officials to explore expanding saffron cultivation in the Araku Agency area and enhancing yield quality.
In a recent agriculture review meeting, the Chief Minister emphasized the need to strengthen the agriculture sector to boost farmers’ income. He highlighted the importance of educating farmers on cultivating crops in demand in the market and guiding them towards profitable options. Furthermore, he stressed the significance of maintaining the productivity of agricultural lands throughout the year by encouraging the cultivation of multiple crops for continuous income.
The Chief Minister urged officials to facilitate certification-based marketing of produce grown through natural farming to help farmers secure premium prices. He also emphasized the importance of doorstep delivery of produce from Rythu Bazaars and proposed a cluster-based development plan to elevate Rayalaseema into a global horticulture hub. Moreover, officials informed the Chief Minister about successful experimental cultivation of tasty apples in Anantapur and favorable climate conditions, prompting further scientific study and expansion of cultivation in the region.
To diversify cultivation, the Chief Minister instructed officials to focus on increasing the production of avocado, fig, jackfruit, guava, and pepper. He highlighted the potential of processing fruits like figs into dry fruit products to enhance their value. Additionally, he mandated the preparation of an action plan to expand horticulture cultivation to 50 lakh acres across the state and emphasized supporting BPL farmer families with supplementary income opportunities through government-backed assistance plans.
