Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh congratulates the newly elected body of Sir Arthur Cotton Nursery Farmers Association in Rajamahendravaram on Sunday.
| Photo Credit: BY ARRANGEMENT
Minister of Tourism and Culture Kandula Durgesh on Sunday (September 13, 2026) said that a proposal to establish a Floriculture Research Institute dedicated to research and development on flower nurseries in Kadiyam would be submitted to the Central and State governments.
Nearly 300 varieties of ornamental flower species are being grown in over 11,500 hectares in the Kadiyam region, comprising four mandals in the East Godavari district—Kadiyam, Atreyapuram, Alamuru, and Mandapeta. The nurseries are located along the banks of river Godavari.
Addressing a gathering here on Sunday, Mr. Durgesh said, “We will initiate talks with the State and Central governments to propose a research institute dedicated to flower nurseries.”
Reacting to the claim that nearly 90% of the farmers engaged in flower nurseries are small and marginal farmers, Mr. Durgesh assured a bank-linkage loan facility for the flower nurseries. “The banks and other stakeholders will be invited for talks on the schemes and bank-linkage loans to help the expansion of the flower nurseries,” he said.
Meanwhile, the new president of the Sir Arthur Cotton Nursery Farmers’ Association, Borsu Subba Rayudu, and its members took the oath on Sunday in the presence of Mr. Durgesh and Rajamahendravaram Rural MLA G. Butchaiah Chowdary. The former president of the association, Ratnam Ayyappa, handed over a ₹5 lakh cheque to Mr. Durgesh for the welfare of the flower nursery workers and farmers.
Published – September 13, 2026 07:40 pm IST
