AP being a major producer of rice, pulses, cotton, groundnut, chillies, sugarcane and a quite number of horticultural crops, the growth rate of aggregate agricultural output declined from 3.4% per annum in the 1980s to 2.3% in 1990s. Yields too have declined substantially. Yield growth of rice declined from 3.1% in the 1980s to 1.3% in the 1990s. Similarly, cotton yield rates have dwindled from 3.4% to 1.4% correspondingly, according to the state’s Economic Survey 2004-05. Further, the government is forming a group of three agriculture scientists in assembly constituencies to support the extension wing to provide quick remedial measures in improving production. These nucleus groups are expected to monitor cropping patterns and other problems being faced by the farmers from time to time. As per estimates in the Economic Survey 2004-05, the area sowed under the foodgrains has fallen to 38.91 lakh hectares, as against 43.03 lakh hectares in 2003-04. Also, foodgrains production has dipped in 2004-05 to 77.80 lakh tonnes as against 86.49 lakh tones in 2003-04.
The fall in the agriculture production is largely attributed to the low rainfall and depleting ground water levels. Accordingly, the government has initiated an ‘artificial rain’ project (through cloud seeding) and decided to continue the project, as it had shown some concrete results. Further, the government has also decided to regulate the crops depending upon the water resources and market conditions. “We have heavy crop in one season (like that of chillies now) or crop failure in the other. This instability in the corps must be minimised to maximise the return on the investment,” says a senior agriculture official. The government is now contemplating maximising the research benefits to farmers by forming Crop Resource Groups (CRGs). These groups will self regulate the crops, train farmers, popularise best practices and techniques aiming at increasing productivity.
To achieve this, the government has provided a fund of Rs 5 crore to the Acharya NG Ranga Agriculture University (ANGRAU) to improve and generate technologies in agriculture and allied sectors. In a bid to sharpen focus for effective management of resources, the state has been divided into seven agro climatic zones and researches initiated on various crops including bio-fuel, sweet sorghum and black jaggery etc. Besides, the university is now on the verge of setting up of research station in each district of the state.
