Kuppam to Lead AP in Sustainable Energy and Farming

Tirupati: Kuppam, the constituency of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, is poised to become a benchmark for sustainable energy and organic farming.

On Monday, Naidu would inaugurate a Rs 1,000 crore solarisation project in Nadimuru village under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijili Yojana. Kuppam, selected as a pilot constituency, aims for 100 per cent solar energy adoption.

Simultaneously, the Chief Minister would launch the "Organic Kuppam" initiative, part of the Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) programme. This initiative, which has supported over 10.37 lakh farmers across the state, highlights Kuppam's commitment to sustainability.

A recent survey identified 57,000 households in Kuppam as eligible for solar rooftop installations. The project will equip homes in Nadimuru with 2KWp solar rooftop net metering systems. The Kuppam Area Development Authority, led by project director Vikas Marmat, proposed Nadimuru as the pilot village, with the implementation being handled by M/s SM Renegy Pvt. Ltd., Visakhapatnam, using CSR funds.

Under the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, 60 per cent of solar installation costs are subsidized by the central government. The state government covered the remaining 40 per cent, making the project completely free for beneficiaries.

The Rural Electric Cooperative Society (RESCO) and Southern DISCOM have begun infrastructure upgrades, with pilot installations already under way in 80 of the 126 homes in Nadimuru.

Surplus solar power generated by households will be sold back to the government via a net metering system. Plans also include transitioning government offices and agricultural electricity connections to solar energy.

During a meeting last November, Naidu expressed his vision to make Kuppam a model solar constituency.

The "Organic Kuppam" initiative, implemented by the Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RySS) under the agriculture department, seeks to introduce natural farming practices across all gram panchayats in Kuppam. This initiative emphasizes farmer livelihoods, public health and environmental sustainability by rejuvenating fallow lands and engaging women’s self-help groups in farming practices.

By 2025-26, the programme aims to cover all 95 panchayats, transitioning 70 per cent of farmers to natural farming and converting 50 per cent of cultivable land. By 2035, the initiative is projected to generate 37,000 rural jobs, with household incomes ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000 per month.

The programme also focuses on improving soil health, conserving water and ensuring food safety and diversity for 66 per cent of the farmers. Additionally, efforts to build climate resilience aim to transform gram panchayats into sustainable villages.

Naidu’s tour will begin on Monday with his arrival at Dravidian University’s helipad at 11.50 am. He will unveil the Swarna Kuppam Vision 2029 at noon, inaugurate the Nadimuru solarisation project at 2.25 pm, and meet organic farmers in Seegalapalle at 4 pm to release the Natural Farming Vision Document. The day will conclude with a review meeting at the university and an overnight stay at the R&B Guest House.

On Tuesday, the CM will visit the Telugu Desam office in Kuppam to inaugurate the Jana Nayakudu Centre at 10 am, followed by unveiling a statue of late Shyamanna in Kangundi village at 12.20 pm. He will also visit the NTR Sports Complex at 1.20 pm and lay foundation stones for various projects from 2 pm to 4.30 pm, concluding with the inauguration of the 1M1B Career Readiness Centre at 6.10 pm.

District Collector K. Sumit Kumar and Joint Collector G. Vidyadhari have ensured smooth arrangements, with senior officials coordinating activities in Kuppam, Palamaner, and Chittoor.