NABARD unveils Rs 5.11 lakh crore credit plan for AP

Vijayawada: The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) on Tuesday unveiled a Rs 5.11 lakh crore credit plan for Andhra Pradesh for 2026-27, marking a nearly 20% increase over the Rs 4.24 lakh crore outlay in the previous year.Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu launched the NABARD state focus paper, which outlines credit projections with a sharp focus on the primary sector. Of the total outlay, Rs 2.55 lakh crore has been earmarked for agriculture.Crop loans account for Rs 1.66 lakh crore, while Rs 34,972 crore has been allocated for animal husbandry. Fisheries have been provided Rs 21,098 crore, horticulture Rs 11,961 crore and agricultural mechanisation accounted for Rs 8,265 crore. Within the horticulture component, Rs 5,313 crore has been specifically earmarked for Rayalaseema and Prakasam districts.The credit plan also allocates Rs 9,957 crore for agricultural infrastructure and Rs 12,687 crore for allied activities. Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have been allotted Rs 1.64 lakh crore.Addressing bankers and NABARD officials, Naidu said the state govt was keen on promoting horticulture as part of the state's growth strategy and sought institutional support to meet sectoral targets. He said the state has set a target of achieving 450 lakh metric tonnes of horticulture production annually.Besides agriculture, horticulture and aquaculture play a decisive role in Andhra Pradesh's economic progress, the chief minister said, calling upon banks and NABARD to extend full cooperation.NABARD chief general manager MR Gopal, General Manager KVS Prasad and representatives from Canara Bank, SBI, SLBC, APGB and APCOB attended the programme.