Fri Feb 07 23:01:27 UTC 2025: ## Andhra Pradesh Aims for 30% Agricultural Growth in Five Years
**Vijayawada, February 8, 2025** – The Andhra Pradesh government has set an ambitious target of achieving a 30% growth rate in its agriculture sector over the next five years, Agriculture Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu announced today. This follows a review meeting chaired by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday.
Currently, the state’s primary sector boasts a 15.86% growth rate. The government plans to initially increase this to 20%, before aiming for the 30% target within five years. A key strategy involves shifting focus towards horticulture, which currently generates ₹1.52 lakh crore in Gross Value Added (GVA) from 1.8 million hectares, significantly outperforming agricultural crops’ ₹57,000 crore GVA from 5.2 million hectares.
To boost horticulture, the government will expand a pilot project transforming Anantapur district into a horticulture hub to other districts. Funding will be increased, leveraging NREGA funds for horticulture cultivation, with a target of raising allocation from ₹40 crore to ₹200 crore. Furthermore, the government plans to implement drip irrigation on 50,000 acres, promote high-demand crops and millet cultivation, and provide a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all major crops.
Additional initiatives include 100% soil testing, subsidized micronutrients (50-70% subsidy), and supporting Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA) groups in fodder cultivation and providing milking machines to enhance women’s employment opportunities. These measures aim to significantly improve agricultural productivity and economic growth in Andhra Pradesh.
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