RICE IN ANDHRA PRADESH - Rice Knowledge Management Portal

RICE IN ANDHRA PRADESH
Introduction
Andhra Pradesh is the fifth largest state in India accounting for 9 and 8 per cent of the country’s area
and population, respectively. The state has agriculturally prosperous area in the coastal districts (9 districts),
an economically and socially backward area in Telangana (10 districts), a drought prone area in Rayalaseema
(4 districts) and a fairly extended tribal belt, along the Northern and North-Eastern regions. Andhra Pradesh
has three major river basins (Krishna, Godavari and Pennar) and five other smaller ones drains in to the Bay
of Bengal. The state has 972 km long coastal line, generally even, along its eastern border, abutting the Bay
of Bengal.
Rice is the Principal food crop cultivated throughout the state providing food for its growing
population, fodder to the cattle and employment to the rural masses. Any decline in its hectarage and
production will have a perceivable impact on the state’s economy and food security. In A.P rice is mostly
cultivated under irrigated eco-system under canals (52%), tube wells (19.31) tanks (16.2%), other wells (8.8%)
and other sources (3.7%).
III.
Zonal information
a. Climate
By virtue of its location and climate, Andhra Pradesh represents a transition from tropical to sub
tropical zone of the country. The climate is predominantly semi arid to arid, except for the coastal region on
the east coast which has humid to sub humid climate. Hot weather (summer) prevails from March to May,
South West mansoon June to September, North east mansoon-October to December and winter December
to February. Temperature ranges from 8 o C to 46 o C .
b. Soil type/Nutrient management
Andhra Pradesh is endowed with a wide variety of soils, ranging from less fertile coastal sands to
highly fertile and productive deltaic alluvia (enti soils/verti sols) of the Godavari, Krishna and Pennar rivers
and the red (alfisol) and black (verti sols) soils, developed from different parent materials. The six major soil
groups present in the state are red soils (Alfi sols 65%), black soils (verti sols 25%), alluvial soils (Entisols and
verti sols 5%) Coastal sands (Enti sols 3%), laterite and lataitic soils (Oxisols) and problem soils (Alfi sols &
Incepti sols 1%) including saline, saline alkali and non saline-alkali soils.
For more Information contact: Visit Rice Knowledge Management Portal http://www.rkmp.co.in
Rice Knowledge Management Portal (RKMP)
Directorate of Rice Research,
Rajendranagar, Hyderabad 500030. Email: naiprkmp@gmail.com, pdrice@drricar.org, shaiknmeera@gmail.com
Ph: 91-40-24591218, 295 Fax: 91-40-24591217
Page | 2