AP Govt committed to develop Kadapa as horticulture hub

Kadapa: District Collector C Harikiran said on Thursday that the government is committed to developing the district as horticulture hub. He made an appeal to farmers to make use of government schemes for improving their living standards. 

The Collector inspected horticulture crops in Vempalle, Pendlimarri and Veerapunayunipalle mandals and interacted with farmers. In Veerapunayunipalle, Harikiran visited the cucumber crop cultivated by C Prasad Reddy with an investment of Rs 28 lakh.

He learnt from the farmer about his experiences in raising cucumber crop. The Collector spoke to farmers at Rampathadu village in Pendlimarri mandal. Farmers made a fervent appeal to the Collector to take steps for providing 1 tmcft of water from the Gandikota reservoir as groundwater levels fell drastically. 

He assured farmers of taking their issue to the notice of the government. Later, he visited a banana cold storage centre and banana pack house constructed under the Horticulture Comprehensive Development Mission (HCDM) at a cost of Rs 24.25 lakh in Vempalle mandal. Assistant Director of Horticulture A Venkateswara Reddy and other officials were present.