Atchannaidu challenges Jagan to a debate on agriculture, Rayalaseema development

Agriculture Minister K. Atchannaidu on Sunday criticised YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy for his remarks on the government’s performance in agriculture and development of Rayalaseema, and challenged him to a debate based on official data.

Mr. Atchannaidu said the proposed ₹1 lakh crore investment mobilisation under the Global Horticulture Hub-Rising Rayalaseema initiative comprised about ₹40,000 crore through the Purvodaya programme and ₹60,000 crore from the private sector. “Private investment cannot be treated as a State budget allocation,” the Minister said.

He said horticulture growth was 17% during 2014-19, 9% during 2019-24, and 21% in 2024-25. The area under horticultural crops increased by 2.91 lakh hectares during 2014-19 and 83,000 hectares during 2019-24, while the present government added 71,000 hectares in one year, the Minister said.

Mr. Atchannaidu said the government had restored subsidies for micro-irrigation and oil palm cultivation. On market intervention, he said about ₹800 crore had been spent in 2025-26 to support farmers, including ₹271 crore for tobacco, ₹261 crore for mango and ₹125 crore for onion.

He said the government had also paid ₹5.67 crore to 81 farmer families who had not received compensation earlier and submitted bills for ₹10.50 crore for 150 families. Mr. Atchannaidu said the government was prepared for a crop-wise discussion on insurance, subsidies, compensation and other farmer-welfare measures.