Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said the state aims to complete 10.63 lakh houses this year and provide housing to all eligible poor families by 2029, while driving structural reforms in the agriculture sector through mechanisation, introduction of technology and large-scale investment.
Addressing the Andhra Pradesh assembly on agriculture and housing on Friday, the chief minister also said the government is promoting large-scale farm mechanization and introducing artificial intelligence-based agronomic services to improve productivity and reduce the cost of cultivation. He said that investments worth ₹14,230 crore have been mobilized in the food processing sector to enhance value addition and market access for farmers.
Outlining the government’s strategy for agriculture, allied sectors and housing, he claimed that Andhra Pradesh contributes nearly 10% to the country’s gross domestic product from agriculture alone. About 1.5 million farmers in 8,168 villages currently practice subsistence farming, with the government aiming to expand coverage to 5 million acres in the coming years.
Five point strategy
The government is implementing a five-pronged strategy focused on water security, demand-driven cropping, food processing, marketing and strong institutional support. He noted that 2.25 million agricultural pumping sets are currently operational in the state, with 69,000 new connections being provided this year. ₹13,722 crore has been allocated for free power supply to farmers in 2025–26.
Under the ‘Annadata Sukhibhava’ scheme, ₹20,000 will be extended to each farmer in three installments, with the state contributing ₹14,000, almost double the assistance given earlier. A compensation of ₹310 crore has been extended to 4.7 million farmers affected by crop loss. The government also cleared ₹10,816 crore for paddy purchase payments within 24 hours, clearing a backlog of ₹1,670 crore left by the previous regime.
Mr. Naidu said that every case of farmer suicide would be audited to prevent recurrence.
The government is preparing a ₹30,000 crore horticulture plan that will leverage an additional ₹70,000 crore of private investment to transform Rayalaseema into a horticulture hub. Plans are afoot to establish the world’s largest cocoa city near Eluru. With power supplied at ₹1.50 per unit, Andhra Pradesh is also positioning itself as a hub for aquaculture.
On water management, the chief minister said groundwater levels in Annamayya district have risen by 6.67 meters due to effective practices, contributing to the national average of 7.31 meters and saving ₹95 crore in energy costs.
Irregularities in housing
On housing, Mr. Naidu alleged that there were large-scale irregularities under the previous government and promised legal action. The government will allot free plots, two cents in urban areas and three cents in rural areas, to 2.2 lakh eligible families. Construction of three lakh houses has started from Rayachoti with ground-breaking ceremonies planned for Ugadi’s 3 lakh houses. The state wants to complete 10.63 lakh houses this year and provide housing to all eligible poor families by 2029.
Published – 27 Feb 2026 20:02 IST
