Bill Gates tastes Andhra snack punugulu during visit to Vijayawada, meets local farmers

Bill Gates enjoys punugulu in Undavalli as Andhra showcases tech-driven farming.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates arrived in Andhra Pradesh on Monday morning, marking his visit with high-level meetings and a glimpse into the state’s blend of tradition and technology. Gates landed in Vijayawada, where he met Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan.

Bill Gates tastes Punugulu

One of the highlights of the visit unfolded at Undavalli, where Gates sampled punugulu, a popular Andhra snack made of fermented batter, typically served with peanut chutney. The dish was prepared by local women farmers, offering the billionaire a taste of regional cuisine rooted in everyday farm life.

Naidu later shared photographs from the visit on X, showing Gates enjoying the snack and interacting with farmers. He said the moment reflected how Andhra Pradesh is combining modern technology with age-old practices. According to Naidu, Gates was given a traditional welcome before being shown how drones are being used in agriculture to improve efficiency and precision.

I am proud of our farmers, who are at the forefront of adopting technology while honouring our traditions. We shared a glimpse of this with Mr Gates in Undavalli today. He was given a traditional welcome, followed by a demonstration of the use of drones in farming. Andhra Pradesh… pic.twitter.com/Cgz69om87V

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— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) February 16, 2026

The Chief Minister also highlighted the state’s push towards technology-driven farming. He said Andhra Pradesh is already delivering AI-generated advisories to farmers, customised to crop patterns, soil conditions and prevailing market prices. Alongside this, the government is encouraging natural farming and sustainable agricultural methods to improve long-term productivity and farmer incomes.

Reflecting on his long association with Gates, Naidu recalled their first meeting in 1997, when he had pitched his vision of building a strong IT ecosystem in the state. He said what began as a discussion on technology has now grown into a broader collaboration aimed at transforming governance and improving lives. During Gates’ visit to the Secretariat in Amaravati, Naidu presented his vision for Swarna Andhra 2047 and explored possible partnerships with the Gates Foundation.

Gates’ Andhra visit also brought back memories of his earlier India trip, when a video of him tasting tea at a Nagpur roadside stall run by social media sensation Dolly Chaiwala went viral, catapulting the local tea seller to global fame. This time, however, it was Andhra’s punugulu and tech-driven farms that took centre stage.