Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday (July 5, 2026) unveiled a roadmap to transform Kuppam into a modern hub for horticulture, food processing, and agro-based industries. He appealed to the farmers to adopt technology-driven cultivation and establish stronger market linkages to achieve higher incomes.
Interacting with farmers from the Kuppam assembly constituency, the Chief Minister stated that the government has initiated a series of partnerships to strengthen the region’s agrarian economy.
He announced that Kuppam Area Development Authority (KADA) signed an agreement with ITC to promote organised cultivation and marketing of fruits and vegetables, facilitating farmers to supply produce to mega cities like Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad. Another agreement with Vishalakshi Innovations Sustainable Value Chain would encourage the adoption of advanced farming practices, Mr. Naidu added.
The Chief Minister said that the ITC had unveiled plans to cultivate 10,000 tonnes of tomatoes under controlled conditions for export by bringing 1,000 acres under scientific cultivation. “Progressive farmers are welcome to participate in the initiative. The company will invest ₹8 crore in creating the necessary infrastructure,” he said.
Highlighting Kuppam’s growing investment potential, the Chief Minister said projects worth nearly ₹10,000 crore are in the pipeline, with reputed firms such as ITC, ABIS, and Mother Dairy showing interest across poultry, dairy, and food processing sectors. He also projected combined public and private investments of around ₹1 lakh crore, with the government focusing on roads, irrigation, and other infrastructure while industry drives value-added processing.
Highlighting the Rayalaseema region as India’s fast-emerging horticulture hub, Mr. Naidu appealed to farmers to focus on crops with global demand and to adopt modern farm equipment.
The Chief Minister further stated that the government had an action plan to explore gold deposits at Chigurugunta in Chittoor district, as it would accelerate the region’s economic growth and generate employment.
Published – July 05, 2026 08:16 pm IST
