Key Sector I — Agriculture

Agriculture is the historic foundation of the Andhra Pradesh economy and the basis of its "Rice Bowl of India" reputation.

Rivers and irrigation — the decisive factor. Andhra Pradesh's agriculture is heavily irrigation-dependent, and the state's fortunes rise and fall with water availability. The major rivers — the Godavari and Krishna (whose combined deltas form the state's agricultural heartland), together with the Penna and the Tungabhadra — feed an extensive network of canals, reservoirs and lift-irrigation schemes. The Krishna–Godavari delta, with assured canal irrigation and fertile alluvial soil, is one of the most productive tracts in India, while the Rayalaseema interior relies more on tanks, wells and rain and is far more vulnerable to drought.

Cropping pattern. Rice (paddy) is by far the dominant crop, occupying the largest share of the state's cropped area and of its food-grain output — the single fact behind the "Rice Bowl" name. Beyond rice, the state is an important producer of a range of commercial and horticultural crops, including chillies (Guntur is a major national chilli-trading centre), cotton, tobacco, groundnut and other oilseeds, pulses, sugarcane, and a large horticulture output (mango and other fruits).

Allied activities — a major strength. "Agriculture and allied" in Andhra Pradesh is much more than crops. The state's long coastline and delta waterways make it one of India's leading centres of fisheries and aquaculture, including a very large shrimp/prawn farming and export industry, alongside significant animal husbandry, dairy and poultry. These allied activities are an increasingly important part of the primary sector's contribution to state income. …