
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy unveiled the State Horticulture Development Plan–2035, outlining a roadmap to expand fruit and vegetable cultivation and enhance productivity across the state. The plan, prepared by the Telangana Horticultural University, targets an expansion of 1.32 lakh acres for fruits and 2.45 lakh acres for vegetables over the next five years. It estimates that an investment of ₹921.40 crore for cultivation and ₹942.50 crore for drip irrigation could yield up to fourfold returns for farmers.
The plan emphasizes integrating university-developed technologies to achieve an annual production value of ₹1,341 crore. Districts suitable for expanding fruit crops like guava, papaya, banana, pomegranate, dragon fruit, and custard apple, and vegetables like tomato, brinjal, carrot, onion, and leafy greens, were identified based on soil and climate conditions. The strategy promotes off-season vegetable cultivation, shade-net farming, and protected agriculture to ensure year-round availability.
To enhance yields, the plan calls for custom hiring centers at every mandal to facilitate access to farm machinery, and the use of weather-based advisories to minimize crop losses. It also proposes establishing cold storage units, pack houses, and refrigerated transport to reduce post-harvest losses. For export promotion, an integrated pack house will be set up near Hyderabad International Airport.
The government aims to empower Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) to manage production, marketing, and collective sales. A marketing intelligence cell will be established jointly by the Horticulture University and Agricultural Marketing Department to provide farmers with real-time price and demand forecasts, ensuring better income and reduced wastage.