III

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT THE DISTRICT

Chittoor District was constituted on 1st April, 1911 and a major change in jurisdiction of the district took place on 1st April 1960 as a result of Pataskar Award. The district is divided into three revenue divisions i.e., Chittoor, Madanapalle and Tirupati with 20 Erstwhile blocks or 66 mandals covering 1540 Revenue villages in 1394 Gram panchayats in taluk system on 22-5-85.

LOCATION
Chittoor district is situated between 120-37'' to 140-8'' North latitude and 780 33'' to 790-55'' East longitude.

POPULATION
Population of the district is 32.5 lakhs with a density of 214 Sq. km. There are 4. 804 lakh cultivators of which 3.937 lakh are small, marginal farmers and 4.90 lakh are agricultural labourers as per 1991 census.

AGRO-CLIMATIC ZONE
This district is categorized under southern agro-climatic zone of Andhra Pradesh based on soil type, rainfall and altitude. Groundnut cropping system occupies maximum area of the zone followed by rice. In dry farming tract of the zone mono-cropping of groundnut is the main stay where as under canals, tanks, wells and bore wells double cropping is practiced.

RAIN FALL
Average rainfall of the district is 918.1mm and it is distributed among the seasons. South-west monsoon North-East monsoon Winter period Hot weather period 427.0 391.1 12.0 88.0 918.1

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Forty two percent of the rainfall of the district is received during the south west monsoon and it is very important for rainfed groundnut in the district. Deficiency and ill distribution of rainfall leads to delayed sowings and crop failure in the district. 45% of the rainfall is received during north east monsoon which is very important for filling up of tanks and recharging of wells and tube wells. This will be utilized for taking paddy crop in the eastern parts of the district. The crop coverage under tanks, wells and tube wells is directly related to the quantum of rainfall received during kharif and rabi seasons. The details of rainfall received in the district from 1973 -74 to 2000-01 is furnished in the Table 1.

TEMPERATURE
Maximum temperature in the western parts of the district is around 36 to 38 C and in eastern parts it touches 46 C. Minimum temperature in western parts is around 12C to 14C and in eastern parts it is 16C to 18C.

LAND UTILIZATION Table-3.1: Land utilization particulars of the district are as follows
Sl. No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Item Total geographical area Area under Forest Barren and uncultivable land Land put to non agricultural use Permanent pastures and other grazing lands Miscellaneous tree crops and grooves Cultivable waste Other fallow lands Current fallows Net area sown Net irrigated area Area lakh (Ha) 14.99 4.5 1.67 1.4 0.4 0.26 0.47 0.98 0.37 4.93 1.69 % of Ground Area 100 30 11 9 3 2 3 7 2 33 11

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Table 3.2: Month wise and Season wise Rainfall (from 1973-74 to 2000-2001)
NORTH-EAST MONSOON WINTER PERIOD HOT WEATHER PERIOD

Sl. No.

SOUTH-WEST MONSOON

Year

Grand Total

June July Aug. Sept. Total Oct. Nov. Dec. Total Jan. Feb. Total Mar. April May Total 76.5 112.1 163.2 392.8 125.1 34.6 41.9 201.6 239.6 1.5 1.5 2.2 2.2 5.5 448.9 5.9 438.5 1.0 498.8 1.5 11.2 12.7 0.5 7.8 43.0 57.5 178.2 438.3 196.6 11.6 2.5 6.5 36.1 40.4 8.0 3.8 4.6 0.2 241.6 4.6 29.5 2.0 6.5 58.7 65.9 349.3 23.1 42.1 332.4 79.9 16.1 235.4 2.6 29.0 26.3 4.4 6.7 13.8 13.4 7.8 22.9 8.1 8.8 15.4 47.6 74.7 19.0 59.2 85.0 653.6 764.4 25.5 1005.4 64.5 100.6 36.8 57.8 46.7 77.7 65.8 57.2 72.4 115.7 37.5 51.6 52.9 65.9 986.9 953.0 903.2 908.9 695.7 841.1 596.9 60.6 142.2 1097.6 18.3 30.0 28.1 30.8 38.8 69.8 750.7 780.5 624.8

1973-74

41.0

1974-75

65.3 137.3

3 45.0 447.8 184.7 247.9 64.1 363.8 263.1 234.7

1975-76

55.7 180.3 112.3 180.5 528.8 261.8 181.6

4 71.8 139.1 50.0 224.8 420.1 103.4 173.5 140.4 417.3 71.4 165.2 400.3 88.1 344.4 75.7 171.8 57.2 46.1 248.4 18.9 451.4 79.5 327.0 49.9 288.9

1976-77

56.9 127.8 218.1

1977-78

88.8

1978-79

36.4 108.9

7 61.0 109.9

1979-80

49.0 114.7

1980-81

31.4

9 67.0 41.7 117.2 289.4 80.9 160.7

1981-82

77.3 102.3 121.3 198.4 499.3 181.8

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10

1982-83

63.5

11

1983-84

59.1 107.0 159.7 266.0 591.8 146.7

50.2 166.7 363.6 16.6 148.1

12 97.2

1984-85

14.8 151.5

8.8 195.5 370.6 123.1 160.3 90.1 409.3 100.3 190.0

13 57.5

1985-86

67.5 154.5

14

1986-87

58.1

60.0 144.0 319.6 103.7 115.6

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10

Sl. No. NORTH-EAST MONSOON WINTER PERIOD HOT WEATHER PERIOD

SOUTH-WEST MONSOON

Year

Grand Total

June July Aug. Sept. Total Oct. Nov. Dec. Total Jan. Feb. Total Mar. April May Total 43.3 114.1 88.4 309.1 186.1 126.0 147.2 459.3 0.8 6.4 54.0 3.7 14.7 2.8 8.3 0.3 25.5 0.3 69.0 83.6 52.6 205.2 83.1 287.7 17.3 371.1 12.3 2.8 660.5 8.4 2.4 0.7 3.3 2.3 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 86 456.6 27 66.9 308 57.9 288.1 2.2 52.3 52.3 2.2 0.5 0.2 19.7 5.0 7.8 0.3 13.2 0.7 13.8 0.4 4.0 338.4 85.7 118.9 69.1 129.5 26.1 44.5 16.0 149.9 191.4 26.1 8.3 4.3 13.9 23.3 53.0 50.7 63.0 49.7 897.9 869.6 922.8 806.4 61.3 1226.7 62.8 657 77.2 1100.1 1.8 181.6 196.6 44 41.4 12.6 10 13.3 39.6 40.9 26.2 84.3 869.8 819.1 96.1 1467.7 39.2 964 94.7 104.7 1124.3 89.5 102.8 725.4

10

15

1987-88

63.3

16 15.6 137.1 443.7 85.3 216.7 385.6 164.0 189.8

1988-89

16.3 160.3 222.3 221.0 619.9

17 60.9 66.2 143.3 116.4 504.9 318.0 339.7 67.9 45.1 99.2 255.8 135.2 199.2 98.7 129.1 183.3 475.2 205.8 216.2 125.7 547.7 59.4 327.4 178.8 131.1 79.5 506.7 155.1 69.5 3.3 227.9

1989-90

47.5 243.5

18

1990-91

22.7

19

1991-92

179.0

20

1992-93

43.6

21

1993-94

64.1

22

1994-95

37.2 109.6 121.2

35.9 345.8 44.3

23 82.7 141.6 248.6 758.8 247.6 37.2 563 152.7 217.9

1995-96

88.6 149.3 189.3

24

1996-97

285.9

77.3 268.2 593.1 19.7

25

1997-98

98.4

71.9 180.8 388.3 144.0 249.9 137.6 531.5

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26 39.4 73.7

1998-99

44.9 139.7 189.7 188.7

27

1999-00

65.4

83.8 262.3 158.5 122.5

28

2000-01

55.8

62 186.2 141.1 445.1 163.3

SOILS
Red soil occupies a major portion of the district. Alluvial soils are seen in parts of Chittoor and Bangarupalem taluks. The details of soils are as follows:

Table-3.3: Details of Soils

Red loams Red sandy soil Clay soil Black loamy soil Black sandy soil Red clay soil 57% 34% 3% 2% 1% 3%

The general fertility status of the soils of Chittoor district is as follows: Organic matter (Organic Carbon) Nitrogen Phosphorous Potash PH range Zinc Iron E.C Low

Low Low to medium Medium to high 6.5 to 8.0 Deficiency is emerging Deficiency is observed in sugarcane areas. Normal in general, in clay soils it is normal to critical (Needs good drainage)

Water holding Capacity Texture Low to moderate and in clay soils it is high. Light, medium and heavy soils

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Table-3.4: Normal area and Present level of Productivity

Sl. No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Paddy Jowar Bajra Maize Ragi Groundnut Sunflower Sugarcane Red gram Chillies Tomato Crop Kharif (ha) 43757 2569 2189 1555 10647 240408 820 33205 6466 597 800 Productivity (Kg/ha) 2592 1100 690 700 700 1173 900 80000 500 1500(dry) 8000 3159 Rabi (ha) 55560 53 51 41 1643 29406 1190 Productivity (Kg/ha) 2428 1086 1349 700 1640 2486 863 1850 -

INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES
G G G G G G G G G G

No. of Sugar factories No. of Agricultural Market Committees No. of Fruit processing units No. of Cold storage units No. of Cotton mills No. of Fertilizer outlets No. of Pesticide outlets No. of Seed outlets No. of Cocoon markets No. of Silk reeling units

5 17 35 5 5 560 224 179 3 5

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G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

No. of Silk worm egg production units No. of Silk reelers training institutes No. of Silk exchanges No. of Dairy units No. of Milk chilling units No. of Milk collection centres under APDDC No. of Milk collection centres under private sector No. of Sheep breeders co-operative societies No. of District fisherman co-operative societies No. of Fisherman co-operative societies No. of Fish seed farms No. of Commercial bank branches No. of Primary agricultural co-operative societies No. of Agricultural research stations Krishi Vignana Kendra Agricultural college Veterinary college Dairy technology

15 1 1 3 5 880 718 81 1 34 8 277 173 3 1 1 1 1

The economy of and the district is agro-based with all farming systems in practice. Occurrence of drought is a regular phenomenon. Dryland agriculture is for subsistence. Commercial agriculture is being practiced in floriculture and olericulture. Dairy protects the farmers from the vagaries of drought. Mango crop is gaining importance. Under limited water resources sericulture is taken up by small and marginal farmers.

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Table-3.5: Sourcewise irrigated area

Sl. No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Canals Tanks Tube wells filter point wells Other wells Lift irrigation Other sources Net area irrigated Area irrigated Irrigation Source Area in Hect. 2243 50763 42052 130179 86 142 171818 56545

Table-3.6: Medium and minor irrigation sources (Area in Ha)

Sl. No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Medium/ Minor Medium Medium Minor Minor Minor Minor Minor Minor Name of the project Krishnapuram Araniyar Project Malle Madugu Project Kalangi Reservoir Swarnamukhi Siddalagandi Project Bahuda Project Pedderu Project Registered Ayacut 2479 2226 1599 1882 4128 91 1165 1740 Actual Net 63 666 12 36 563 96 Area irrigated Gross 63 1115 12 36 563 248

Number and area of operational holdings according to size Table-3.7 Marginal cultivators below 2.47 Acres
SC Nos. 63492 Area 55270 Nos. 9648 ST Area 8392 OTHERS Nos. 215983 Area 331237 Nos. 278443 ALL Area 312631

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Table 3.8: Small Cultivators 2.47 - 4.93 Acres

SC Nos. 12805 Area 43271 Nos. 2868 ST Area 9103 OTHERS Nos. 96267 Area 344277 Nos. 111676 ALL Area 397790

IRRIGATED AREA PARTICULARS Table 3.9: Source wise normal ayacut in the district (in Ha.)
Sl. No. 1. 2. 3. 4. Wells Tanks Projects Others Total: Source Kharif 70,187 11,587 2,226 165 84,165 Rabi 40,843 1,06,439 14,545 1,61,827 Total 1,11,030 1,18,026 16,771 165 2,45,992

There are no live rivers existing in the district. Hence the possibility of major irrigation projects is very limited. With the low and irregular rainfall and poor soil fertility status, farmers are accustomed to groundnut cultivation. Under well and tube well irrigation vast potentialities are available for agriculture and allied enterprises. The farmers of the district are highly enterprise oriented to take up new enterprises such as cultivation of aromatic and medicinal plants and protection of forest wealth. The major crops in the district are groundnut, paddy and sugarcane. In Horticulture the mango covers a major area followed by coconut and there is every possibility of taking up other fruit crops such as sapota, guava, seethaphal and amla. In Chittoor district agro-based industries such as fruit processing units and by products of horticulture and forest are increasing in number year by year. There is vast potential in the district for development of floriculture, spices and plantation crops such as coffee, arecanut. For floriculture existence of pilgrimage centres like Tirumala, Sri Kalahasti and Kanipakam located in the district is an added advantage for its rapid cultivation. Different voluntary organizations and Self Help Groups and farmers organizations, Primary agricultural co-operative societies can be utilized in an effective manner to increase the production in all the enterprises.

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