In a significant boost to the State’s agriculture sector, four districts of Andhra Pradesh — Annamayya, Sri Sathya Sai, Anantapur, and Alluri Sitharama Raju — are among the 100 ‘Aspirational Agricultural Districts’ selected under the Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) announced in the Union Budget 2025–26.
Addressing the media in Rayachoti on Friday, Lanka Dinakar, Chairman of the Twenty-Point Programme Implementation Committee hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for recognising the potential of Andhra Pradesh and allocating ₹24,000 crore per annum for six years for the implementation of the project.
Mr. Dinakar also thanked Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for his crucial role in the inclusion of the project for the State.
“The scheme, which covers 100 low-productivity districts all over India, aims to enhance agricultural output, diversify crop patterns, galvanise irrigation, improve post-harvest management, and ensure better access to farm credit,” Mr. Dinakar said, adding it would integrate 36 Central schemes from 11 Ministries with related State programmes, focusing on 73 development indicators, of which 46 would be measurable outcomes.
Mr. Dinakar said Annamayya district was selected due to its unfavourable climatic conditions and rural backwardness. He said coordinated efforts between the Centre and the State, and the ‘double engine government’ were crucial to develop such regions.
Committees at the district, State, and national levels would monitor the scheme’s progress. The PMDDKY would be formally launched on Saturday (October 11, 2025) by Mr. Narendra Modi, he said.
