DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Anantapur

MAJOR OBJECTIVES:

Agriculture Extension and transfer of latest Agricultural Technology to farmers for
increasing production and productivity of different crops through proper research and
extension linkage.
Trainings to farmers and field level functionaries to update their knowledge and skills.
Agriculture inputs arrangements, Farm Mechanization and quality control.
Implementation of all crop oriented schemes as a tool for transfer of technology to
farmers including Integrated Pest Management& Integrated Nutrient Management
Facilitation of credit and implementation of Crop Insurance Scheme.

CLIMATE AND RAINFALL:

The normal rainfall of the district is 553.0mm .by which it secures least rainfall when
compared to adjoining Rayalaseema Region and other parts of Andhra Pradesh. The
normal rainfall for the South West Monsoon period is 338.0 mm which forms about 61.2% of
the total rainfall for the year. The failure of the rains in this South West monsoon period from
J une to September often lead the District to drought and thereby failure of crops. The rainfall
for North East monsoon period is 156.0 mm only, which forms 28.3% of annual rainfall
(October to December). The remaining months of March, April and May are warm and dry.
and the normal daily maximum temperature ranges between 29 C to 42 C. The November,
December and J anuary are cooler months when the temperature falls about 17.2 C.

VULNERABILITY OF THE DISTRICT TO NATURAL CALAMITIES :

Anantapur is the lowest rainfall receiving district in the state with a mean rainfall of 553 mm
The rainfall intensity, frequency, pattern and distribution is highly erratic. The dry spells and
drought are very common. The district has sustained 7 years continuous drought since
2000-01. The soils are being very shallow with low moisture holding capacity, can't support
the crops even during short dry spells resulting in drastic reduction in yields.
The farmers experience coupled with the research findings indicate Groundnut is the
sole crop which can withstand the harsh climate of Anantapur.Therefore Groundnut is the
predominant crop grown in an area of 8.5 lakh hectares. To mitigate the effect of drought,
the dry land technology like soil moisture conservation, watershed management, drought
management are being practiced in the district.

SOILS :

The soils in Anantapur district are predominantly Red except Kanekal, Bommanahal,
Vidapanakal, Uravakonda, Vajrakarur, Guntakal, Gooty, Pamidi, Peddavadugur, Yadiki,
Tadipatri, Yellanur, Peddapappur and Putlur Mandals. In these Mandals soils are red and
black almost in equal proportion. Thus, red soils constitute 78% of the area while black soils
are predominant in 20% and other soils are in 2% area of the district. The soils can be
classified as sandy loams (31%), clay (24%) loamy sands (14%), sandy clay loams (13%)
and rocky lands (12%) in texture.

Cropping pattern : The cropping pattern of the district vary from situation to situation due to
different Agro- climatic conditions. But the majority of the area in Kharif is under Rainfed
Red Soils where Groundnut +Red gram is predominant crop.





Major Crops : The major crops grown in the district in different seasons are given below
Kharif : Groundnut, Redgram, Paddy, Sunflower, J owar, Cotton, Castor.
Rabi : Bengalgram, Sunflower, Groundnut, Paddy.

AREA, PRODUCTION AND PRODUCTIVITY :

Normal Area sown, Production and yield details of the major crops :

S.
No
Crop
Area in
1000Ha
c
Production
in 1000Mts
Yield in
Kgs/ha
Value of the
produce in Crore
Rs.(as per MSP)
1 Groundnut 872 706 810 1482.6
2 Redgram 35 24 677 84
3 Rice 34 107 3177 104.8
4 Bengalgram 84 82 981 144.3
5 Sunflower 57 34 602 75.3
6 Maize 16 80 5073 67.2
7 J owar 16 20 1234 16.8

DROUGHT MITIGATION MEASURES :

Summer ploughing and Cultivation across the slope.
Early sowing of crop to avoid terminal drought.
Introduction of intercropping of Redgram with Groundnut.
Introduction of Drought resistant varieties like Narayani and K-9 in Groundnut.
Frequent inter cultivation and formation of dead furrows.
Construction of farm ponds and application of life saving irrigation through sprinklers.
Integrated crop management by way of balanced dose of fertilizers, application of
Zinc and Gypsum and adopting to integrated pest management.
Resorting to Contingent cropping with diversified crops like J owar, Horsegram,
Castor and Minor Millets.

DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING THE YIELD OF GROUNDNUT :

Introduction of High Yielding Varieties like K-6, k-9,Narayani & ICGV-91114.
Seed treatment with Trichoderma or Dithen M-45.
Maintaining optimum plant population.
Early sowing of Groundnut along with Redgram as an Intercrop.
Adoption of balanced dose of fertilizers along with Farm Yard Manure.
Frequent inter cultivation upto four weeks, adoption of boarder crop, trap crops and
integrated pest management.
Removal of Parthinium and other weeds to control the vectors of PSND.
Application of 25 Kgs of Zinc Sulphate and 500Kgs Gypsum per Hac
Adoption of rain water harvesting techniques like dead furrows and Farm ponds.
Adoption of Farm mechanization in Groundnut to reduce cost of cultivation.
Facilitation of credit and implementation of crop insurance village as a unit in the
District.