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A.P. GEOGRAPHY

AGRICULTURE OF ANDHRA PRADESH

Importance:

1. Rural Agriculture accounts for 68.40% of labour force.

2. Agricultural sector accounts for 70% of employment (including both rural and urban areas).

3. 40% of exports of A.P. are accounted for by agriculture and allied sector.

4. Telangana has the largest percent of non-agricultural labour of its total labour.

5. Non-agricultural labour as a percent of the total labour is highest in Ranga Reddi district and least in Anantapur district.

6. In coastal Andhra, the highest percent of non-agricultural labour of its total labour is in E.Godavari.

7. In Rayalseema, the highest percent of non-agricultural labour of its total labour is in Cuddapah.

Distribution of acreage under food and non-foodcrops:

1. Area under foodcrops - 68.1%

2. Area under non-foodcrops - 31.8%

Region-wise distribution of food and non-food crop acreage ( as a percent of total cultivated land ):

Region Foodcrops Non-Foodcrops

1. Coastal A.P. 77.3% 22.7%

2. Telangana 74.7% 25.3%

3. Rayalaseema 40.9% 59%

Net Sown Area : The state average net sown area is 38.89% of the total area. Coastal Andhra has the largest net sown area ( 41.26%) followed by Rayalaseema ( 39.53%) and Telangana (36.69%).

Gross cropped area : The state average for gross cropped area is 119.6%. Coastal Andhra has the largest gross cropped area ( 134%) followed by Telangana ( 144.7%) and Rayalaseema (107%).

Net cropped Area under Food Crops :

a) Of the total net cropped area of A.P. under food crops, coastal Andhra has the largest area followed by Telangana and Rayalaseema.

b) Of the total, gross cropped area under food crop, coastal Andhra has the largest followed by Telangana and Rayalaseema.

c) Of the total area under non-food crop of A.P., the largest is in Rayalaseema followed by Telangana and Coastal Andhra.

Cropping Pattern : Rice and jowar are the main food crops of A.P. while cotton and groundnut are the main cash crops. The important facts about the cropping pattern of A.P. are :

A) Rice: It accounts for 29.3% of the cultivated area. Two-thirds of the rice crop is a kharif crop. Most of the paddy acreage is in Coastal Andhra followed by Telangana and Rayalaseema. Rice accounts for 57% of the food crop area of Coastal Andhra followed by Telangana ( 34%) and Rayalaseema. Paddy is mainly cultivated in irrigated areas. It accounts for 56% of the foodcrop area in Coastal Andhra, 34% of foodcrop area in Telangana and 24% of the foodcrop area in Rayalaseema. A.P. is known as the rice bowl of India. A.P. is the third largest producer of rice in India.

B) Jowar: It accounts for 16.5% of acreage of A.P. A.P. is the second largest producer of jowar in India. Telangana has the largest area under jowar followed by Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra ( in that order ). It is mainly cultivated in Cuddapah, Chittoor and Medak.

C) Groundnut: It accounts for 17.4% of area under cultivation and A.P. ranks second after Gujarat in groundnut production. The maximum area under groundnut is in Rayalaseema followed by Telangana and Coastal Andhra. In Rayalaseema and Telangana districts, nearly 71% of the area is used for groundnut crop.

D) Cotton: This is an important cash crop of A.P. Telangana has the greatest area under cotton followed by Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema. In Telangana, there has been an increasing tendency to cultivate cotton under irrigated conditions.

E) Bajra: It is an important coarse cereal of A.P. It is mainly cultivated in Coastal districts. Nellore has the maximum area under Bajra.

F) Ragi: A.P. ranks 5th in ragi production in India. It is mainly cultivated as a subsistence crop in Rayalaseema and Telangana. It is an important crop in Anantapur, Cuddapah, Chittoor, Medak and Mahboobnagar districts.

G) Maize (corn) : It is an important coarse cereal in Telangana and Coastal Andhra. Srikakulam and Vizayanagaram districts in Coastal Andhra and Karimnagar in Telangana are important for the cultivation of maize.

H) Castorseed: It is an important non-edible oilseed of A.P. and A.P. is one of the leading states in the output of castorseed in India. It is mainly cultivated in Nalgonda, Mahboobnagar and Ranga Reddi districts.

I) Seasamum: It is an important edible oilseed of A.P. It is mainly cultivated in East and West Godavari districts, Vishakapatanam and Vizayanagaram districts of Coastal Andhra and also in Warangal, Karimnagar and Adilabad districts.

J) Mesta: It is a fibrous crop of the jute family. A.P. accounts for 8% of India's jute output and the main mesta cultivating areas are in Srikakulam, Vizayanagaram and W. Godavari.

K) Red Chilli: Guntur is the largest chilli producing district of India and the second largest producer of chilli in India is Khammam district.

Note:

1. A.P. accounts for 5% of India's milk output.

2. A.P. is India is largest poultry state and produces one third of the eggs produced per day in India.

3. A.P. has the third largest area under shrimp aquaculture ( after W. Bengal, and Kerala) but is the second largest producer of shrimp ( after W. Bengal ).

4. Sericulture : A.P. is the second largest producer of mulberry silk after Karnataka. The mulberry silk is mainly produced in Telangana where the main centres are Medak and Warangal. Tassar silk ( which is indigenous to India ) is mainly produced in Adilabad, Karimnagar, Khammam and Warangal. The silk fabrics of A.P. are world renowned and the famous silk centres of A.P. are Dharmavaram, Gadwal, Narayanpet, Pochampalli and Kothakota.

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LIST OF IRRIGATION PROJECTS OF A.P.

1. Vengala Raya Sagaram project : Srikakulam.

2. Pedderu Reservoir : Across Papagiri, a tributary of river Krishna, Chittoor district.

3. Mallera Vagu and Mukka Mamidi Projects : Khammam.

4. Vattivagu and Boggula Vagu projects : Karimnagar district.

5. Vengala Rao Irrigation Project : Across river Krishna, in Kottapalli, Mahboobnagar.

6. Kanupur Canal Project: Right side of river Pennar.

7. Cheyyeru Project - In Rajampet mandal of Cudddapah district.

8. Peddavagu, Tallicheru and Gundla Vagu projects: Khammam district.

9. Chandraraja Swamy Project : Kurnool district.

10. Jilleru Project: W. Godavari.

11. Nizamsagar Project: Across Manjira in Nizambad district.

12. Icchampalli project: Across Godavari, Karimnagar. It is a joint project of M.P. A.P. and Maharashtra.

13. Madduvalasa Project: Across Swarnamukhi ( a tributary of Nagavali), Srikakulam.

14. Swarna Project : In Nirmal mandal, Adilabad.

15. Pulivendla Canal Project : It jointly makes use of waters of Tunghabadra Upper Canal and Chitravati rivers.

16. Gandipalem Project : It is across Maneru river, in Nellore district.

17. Tandava Project : It is Vishakapatanam district.

18. Gajula Dinne Project: It is across Handri river, in Kurnool district.

19. Jangavata Project : It is in Srikakulam.

20. Konam Project : It is in Vishakapatanam.

21. Maddigadda Project : It is in E. Godavari.

Power Projects :

1. Muchkund Project : It is a joint venture of Orissa and A.P. It supplies power to Srikakulam, Vizag, west and E. Godavari, Krishna and Guntur districts.

2. Tungabhadra Hydro Project: A joint venture between Karnataka and A.P. It supplies power to Rayalaseema region. The share of A.P. is 80% of the total power output.

3. Upper Sileru Project : Across lower Sileru river and supplies power to Vizag.

4. Penna Ahobilam Hydro Project: Across river Penner, Ahobi lam.

5. Balimela Project : It is near Upper Sileru, Koraput district, across Balimela. A.P. gets some power from this joint project of Orissa and A.P.

6. Vijjeshwaram Project: A natural gas based power project, at Vijjeshwaram, E. Godavari.

7. Jegurupadu Project : The first private sector power project to be commissioned in A.P. It is based on natural gas and is in E. Godavari.

8. Spectrum Project : A proposed project based on natural gas, in Kakinada, E. Godavari.

9. Kothagudem Thermal Power station: It is Paloncha, Khammam and was started in the 3rd 5- year plan.

10. Nellore Thermal Power Station : This was started with Japanese assistance and supplies power to Nellore.

11. Ramagundem Power Station: This was started in 1957, Karimnagar district. It is part of NTPC. This supplies power to T. Nadu, A.P., Goa, M.P., Kerala and Orissa.

12. Jurala Hydro Power Station : Makes use of waters of Priyadarishini barrage, Mahboobnagar.

13. Simhadri Thermal Power Plant : It is to be set up with assistance from Japan, Vishakapatanam.

14. Muddanoor Thermal Power Station : The first phase has been completed near Muddanoor, Cuddapah.

15. Krishnapatanam Thermal Project : A private sector project, in Krishnapatanam, Nellore district.

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PHYSIOGRAPHY, CLIMATE AND SOILS OF A.P.

The 23 revenue districts of A.P. fall under three natural regions - Coastal Andhra region with 9 districts, the Rayalaseema region with 4 districts and the Telangana region with 10 districts. The Telangana and Rayalaseema regions constitute the Andhra plateau. The Andhra plateau stretches for 810 kms in the north-south direction and about 535 kms in the east-west direction ( the maximum stretch of 535 kms in the east-west direction occurs in northern part of A.P. ).

Physiographically, the Andhra plateau is made up the peneplains and the Eastern Ghats. The Ghats constitute the mountainous region and appear as hills south of river Krishna. In the north, the Ghats are cut by rivers Krishna and Godavari. The hills that make up the Ghats south of river Krishna are the Nallamallai, Velikonda, Erramallai, Sesachalam and Palkonda ranges. These hills are cut by many longitudinal valleys. The Palkonda ranges make up the hills of Tirupati, while the Nallamallai hills make up the hills of Srisailam. These Eastern Ghats of A.P. are called the Cuddapah ranges in the Southwest.

In the heart of the hilly tract occurs the Nandyal basin. This lies between the confluence of Krishna and Tungabhadra in the northwest to Cuddapah in the Southeast. The Nandyal basin is drained by river Kunderu ( a tributary of Pennar ). The Erramallais constitute Western boundary of the Nandyal basin while the Nallamallais constitute the eastern boundary.

Telangana and Western Rayalaseema are peneplains and have many monadnocks ( i.e., residual hills). Northern Telangana is a lava plateau with a maximum elevation of 800 metres and is actually part of the Deccan plateau.

The coastal plains with their deltaic alluvial soils constitute the youngest geomorphic region. The coastal plains are of varying width. They are narrowest in Sriakakulam ( where their width is only 3.7 km) and are the widest in the Krishna-Godavari delta region ( here they are 72 kms wide).

CLIMATE

The climate of the coastal region and Telangana is described as tropical rainy climate while the climate of Rayalaseema is described as hot Steppe ( or the Savana or the Sudan type of climate). The average annual rainfall for entire A.P. is around 85 cms. The rainfall for coastal Andhra is around 1000 mm and for Rayalaseema it is around 672 mm. The rainfall decreases from north and northwest parts of A.P., ( where it is around 150 cms / year ) towards south and southwest (where it is around 60 cms / year).

The Telangana region gets peak rainfall in August while the Rayalaseema gets maximum rainfall during the retreating monsoon season in September. Rainfall is highest in Nizamabad and lowest in Anantapur. The retreating monsoon gets maximum rainfall to Chittoor and the minimum to Nizamabad. The Telangana region gets lowest rainfall during retreating monsoon period.

SOILS

Red soils cover the greatest area in A.P. and are principally distributed between Godavari and Krishna. These soils cover major parts of Rayalaseema besides parts of Nellore and Guntur. They also occur in the Southern parts of Telangana. In Telangana, the red soils are called Chalkas. The red soils of A.P. have been derived from the very old igneous and metamorphic rocks that make up the Rayalaseema and Telangana regions.

The Black soils or the Regur soils occur in northern Telangana (particularly in Adilabad and Nizamabad districts ) and in Cuddapah, Mahboobnagar and Kurnool districts. The black soils have been derived from the basalt rocks i.e., the lava rocks that make up northern Telangana. These black soils have concretions of lime ( i.e., calcium oxide ) called Kankar. The alluvial soils occur in the Krishna - Godavari delta and in the coastal plains. These are very fertile and are the youngest soils of A.P. In the summit areas of plateaus and hills, the lateritic soils occur. These laterite soils of A.P. are locally called as Murram soils.

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RIVERS OF ANDHRA PRADESH

About 75% of A.P.'s territory is covered by basins of Godavari, Krishna and Pennar. These three and 17 other short rivers carry 15% of India's river waters ( after excluding the waters of Brahmaputra ). The chief rivers and their characteristics are :

1. Godavari : It is the second largest river in India. The total length is 1584 kms of which 722 kms is in A.P. Godavari rises in Triambak, in Western Ghats in Nasik District of Maharashtra. The states which share the basin area of Godavari ( i.e., the riparian states ) are Maharashtra, M.P., A.P., and Orissa. Godavari enters the state in Basar village in Adilabad district. It drains areas in Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Warangal, Khammam, East and West Godavari districts. Just before the Godavari enters the Bay of Bengal in E. Godavari district, it splits into some branches. The three branches near Dowleshwaram in Rajhmundry are : 1) Gowthami; 2) Vasista; 3) Vainateya. The other branches are Tulya, Atreya and Bharadwaja.

The Godavari occupies 27% of the area of A.P. The tributaries of Godavari contribute more than two-thirds of its potential in A.P. The Pranahita from M.P., (which is a confluence of Wardha, Penganga and Wainganga), the Manjira from Maharashtra, and the Indravati and Sabari from Orissa, are its main tributaries. The Pranahita contributes 40% to the Godavari waters, while the Manjira contributes 6%, the Indravati contributes 20% and the Sabari contributes 10% to the Godavari waters respectively.

2. Krishna: It's total length is 1440 kms of which 620 kms is in A.P. The riparian states of Krishna are A.P., Karnataka and Maharashtra. The Krishna arises close to the Mahadev range in Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra. The Krishna enters A.P. near Tangadi village, Alampur, in Mahboobnagar. It drains areas in Mahboobnagar, Kurnool, Nalgonda, Guntur and Krishna districts. Before entering the Bay of Bengal, the Krishna splits into three main branches between Hamsala Divi and Nachakunta in Krishna district. It's largest and longest tributary is Bhima. The Tungabhadra ( a confluence of the Tunga and Bhadra) from Karnataka is the main tributary. The other tributaries are Dindi, Paleru, Koyna, Aparna, Panchaganga, Musi, Munneru, Ghatprabha and Malprabha.

3. The Pennar: It arises in Nandi Hills in Kolar district of Karnataka and enters A.P. near Chowluru, Hindupur, Anantapur district. It drains areas in Anantapur, Nellore and Cuddapah districts. It joins the Bay of Bengal at Utukur, Nellore district. The chief tributaries of Pennar are Jayamangala, Chitravati, Kunderu, Papaghni, Cheyyeru, and Kumudvathi. The total length of Pennar in A.P. is around 568 km.

4. Nagavali: This is also called Langulta in its lower reaches. It is a 220 km long river of which 115 kms lies in A.P. It arises in Rayagarh hills of Orissa. It enters A.P. in Srikakulam district and drains areas in Srikakulam and Vijayanagaram districts. It joins the Bay of Bengal near Mofaz Bandar in Srikakulam district. It's chief tributary is Swarnamukhi, which originates in Orissa. The other tributaries are Jhanjavati and Vedavathi.

5. Vamsadhara: It is a 185 km long river which arises in Orissa. About 90 kms of the river length is in Srikakuluam district. It joins the Bay of Bengal near Kalingapatanam in Srikakulam district.

6. Gundlakamma: It arises in the Nallamallai hills of Kurnool district. It drains areas in Guntur, Kurnool and Prakasam districts. It joins the Bay near Devarampadu in Prakasham district.

7. Manjira: It arises in Balaghat hills in Beed district of Maharashtra. It enters A.P. in Medak. It is the longest tributary of Godavari.

8. Tungabhadra: It is an important tributary of Krishna and arises in Varahagiri hills of Karnataka.

9. Swarnamukhi: It arises in Chandragiri hills of Chittoor. It drains areas in Chittoor and Nellore. It joins the Bay near Siddavatam in Nellore district.

10. Musi: It arises in Anantagiri hills in Siva Reddy Peta. It's only tributary is Aleru.

11. Dindi: It arises in Shahabad hills in Mahboobnagar district. It joins the Krishna at Yelleshwaram.

12. Munneru : It arises from the Pakhal lake.

13. Paleru : It arises in Warangal district and drains areas in Warangal, Krishna and Nalgonda districts.

14. Muchkund : It arises in Madugula hills of Vishakapatanam.

Other Rivers : In addition to the above rivers, A.P., also has some independent rivers like the Sarda, Varaha Thandava, Gosthani, Meghadrigadda, Champavati and Saragudugedda. All these arise in the E. Ghats and enter the Bay in Vishakapatanam district.

Tanks and Lakes of A.P. : Many tanks and lakes, mostly fed by river channels, are present in A.P. The important tanks and lakes are Anantasagaram tank ( Nellore district ), the Cumbam tank ( Prakasam district), the Nandyal tank ( in Kurnool), the Pakhal Lake, the Ramappa Lake and the Laknavaram lake ( all in Warangal district) and the Kolleru lake ( in West Godavari district. The Kolleru lake is Asia's largest freshwar lake ). The Pulicat lake is a saline lake and is an important bird sanctuary.

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