User:Korra.Srinivaschowhan1985

Agriculture in Telangana Sustainable growth in Agriculture continues to be core agenda for both the Central and State Governments. Agriculture plays a pivotal role in the economy of Telangana and the better performance of this sector is vital for inclusive growth. Telangana went in for the Green Revolution in rice cultivation in the 1970s. There have been significant changes in the structure and performance of the agrarian economy in the state in the recent years. Telangana State is endowed with bountiful resources having good soils, diversified cropping pattern and major irrigation systems fed by rivers like Godavari and Krishna. Agriculture is a way of life, a tradition that has shaped the culture and economic life of the people of Telangana. Therefore, it will continue to be central to all strategies for planned socio-economic development of the State. The State Government has emphasized the need to achieve 6% growth rate and increased returns on investment to farmers through improved technology, effective extension reach, efficient input delivery, mechanisation, marketing tie up, adequate credit and crop insurance. The total Geographical area of the State is 114.84 lakh ha with a Gross Cropped Area of 62.88 lakh ha in the year 2013-14. Agriculture sector is mainly rainfed and depends to a signifi cant extent on the depleting ground water. As nearly 55.49 percent of the State’s population is dependent on some form of farm activity for livelihoods, it is imperative to increase the farm incomes and ensuring sustainable growth in Telangana to reduce poverty. Highest priority is accorded to the Agriculture Sector in the State with the objective of shifting the excess labour force from this sector to other non-farm rural sectors such as rural industry through skill development. Ensuring food security and provision of gainful employment continues to be the essential premise of the socio economicdevelopment and employment guarantee schemes like MGNREGS and Rural livelihoods programmes. The share of agriculture to state GSDP in 2014-15 is 9.3 percent at current prices. Agriculture and allied sectors are constituted by crop husbandry (agriculture, horticulture), livestock, forestry and fisheries sectors. The share of crop husbandry sector in agriculture and allied sector GSDP is declining overtime. The share of livestock sector is around one third of total agriculture and allied sectors of GSDP during 2014-15. The growth of this sector is stable as compared to that of crop sector during the last decade. However, there has been a slow down in its growth during the last two years. Land Utilization in Telangana The total land area of the State is 114.84 lakh hectares, out of which the area under forest cover is 27.43 lakh hectares, constituting 23.89 percent of the geographic area. Nearly, 43.20 percent area is under cultivation (49.61 lakh hectares), 8.36 percent is Current Fallow Lands (9.60 lakh hectares), 7.79 percent Land is put to non-agricultural uses (8.95 lakh hectares), 5.36 percent is barren and uncultivable (6.15 lakh hectares) and 6.24 percent falls under other fallows (7.17 lakh hectares). The remaining 5.16 percent is under culturable waste, permanent pastures and other grazing lands, and land under miscellaneous tree crops and groves are not included in the net area sown (5.93 lakh hectares) Land Holdings As per the Agricultural Census, 2010-11, the number of holdings in the State amounted to 55.54 lakh and the area held by these holding was 61.97 lakh hectares. The average size of the holdings in the State is 1.11 hectares, which is highly uneconomical to operate. In the State, 62.0 percent of the holdings are marginal (less than 1 hectare) and the percentage of small holdings (1 to 2 hectares) is 23.9 percent. Thus, marginal and small holdings constitute about 85.9 percent of total agricultural holdings inthe State, making agriculture a subsistence source of livelihood for the majority of the population. More than 60% holdings are marginal in Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Medak, Khammam and Warangal districts. However, percentage of area held by semi medium and small holdings is higher than marginal holdings. Average size of land holding is highest (1.40 ha.) for Adilabad District and lowest (0.92 ha.) for Nizamabad District. Rainfall in Telangana The State of Telangana is semi-arid. The average annual rainfall in the state is about 906 mm, 80 percent of which is received from the south-west monsoon (June-September). The rainfall in the State is erratic and uncertain and distribution of the rain fall is uneven in various mandals, thus, making agriculture a proverbial gamble in monsoon. Of the rainfall received during the period from 2004-05 to 2013-14, the annual actual rainfall was lowest in 2004-05 with 614 mm, where as it was the highest in 2013-14 with 1212 mm as against normal rainfall of 906 mm in the state. The actual rainfall received during the South West Monsoons (June - September) period for 2013-14 was 852 mm as against the normal rainfall of 715 mm, recording an excess of 19 percent. Rainfall received during the North East monsoons (October- December) period for 2013-14 was 243 mm as against the normal rainfall of 129 mm, recording an excess of 88 percent.