Theo_Fidel wrote:
The question is one of productivity. For the same effort lowland/delta/coastal areas will produce 3-4 times what the highlands produce. Highland agriculture is a recipe for bankruptcy. You might temporarily escape by finding crops that do not grow well in lowlands, floriculture or citrus crops or olives, etc. But once the lowlands figure it out you will be under relentless pressure and pushed ever more towards the margins.
Theo saar, not necessarily true.
Rice production Scenario in AP
• Area: Area under rice mostly depends on the mansoon pattern and availability of water in reservoirs.
Area under rice was high during 2008-09 (43.87 l.ha) and lowest is in 2002-03 (28.22 l.ha).
There is no scope for increasing area under rice and rice area is replaced by some profitable dry crops due to in sufficient water. Rice is grown in 28% of gross cropped area and 50% of area under food crops round the year in all the districts. Though there is a rise and fall of area and production of rice based on water availability, but there is a constant increase in productivity.
In the context of food security such decline in area and production is not good to meet the future rice requirement. In the coastal districts the area under rice is declining because of aquaculture activities.
{This would require utilizing the land in the Telangana region to compensate for growing need or lack of availability in costal regions }
• Production: Rice production depends up on the seasonal conditions prevailing during that particular year. Sofar highest production was realized (140.10 l.t) during 2008-09 and lowest (73.29 l.t) during
2002-03. In the basal production, contribution of superfine varieties is 62% followed by 25% of fine varieties and the rest from common varieties. It is expected that about 20 lakh tones of fine rice would be exported from the state. More rice is produced in East Godavari (17.01 l.t), West Godavari (16.71 l.t), Krishna (11.42 l.t),
Karimnagar (10.87 l.t), Guntur (10.27 l.t) and lowest in Ranga Reddy (1.04).
• Productivity, Ecosystem wise : In A.P rice productivity is 3333 kg/ha compared to 2001 kg/ha (India) and 4112 kg/ha (world). Rice productivity is highest in Nellore district (4473kg/ha) followed by East Godavari (4028 kg/ha), West Godavari (3928 kg/ha) and lowest in Vishakhapatnam (2075 kg/ha). The crop is grown in three ecosystems viz., irrigated ecosystem (50.6%), rainfed low land (43.8%) and rainfed uplands (5.6%) . In A.P realized yields are
above state average in 9 districts i.e., Nellore (4473 kg/ha), East Godavari (4028 kg/ha), West Godavari (3928 kg/ha), Prakasham (3779 kg/ha),
Nizamabad (3629 kg/ha), Nalgonda (3555 kg/ha), Adilabad (3878 kg/ha), Guntur (3468 kg/ha),
Khammam (3376 kg/ha) and in 13 districts yields are less than the state average and lowest in Vishakhapatnam district (2075 kg/ha).
• Yield gap and its reasons: Most of the varieties already released and recommended are capable of yielding 4.0 to 5.0 t/ha of rice under field conditions against the average yield of 3.43 t/ha being achieved by the state. Thus, there still exists an yield gap of 0.5 to 1.5 t/ha even with the available varieties and technologies.
To achieve the yield potential already created, farmers have to necessarily adopt recommended package in totality. Farmers are adopting the improved variety and a part of the package not giving adequate attention to the remaining component particularly the correction of soil problems, nutritional disorders and water management to some extent.
Over 5000 litres of water is required to produce 1 kilogram of rice. Most if it is used for soil preparation and weed suppression. To make rice farming more profitable, water use efficiency has to be improved a lot in addition to other factors.
Though the yields are increasing over the years to varying degree they are not proportionate to the increase in production cost. The factor productivity which is on decline should improve. Therefore, the research and extension efforts will have to focus on the efficient use of inputs, reduction in the costs of production, minimizing input losses and maximize output through scientific crop production and protection technologies like Maintance of optimum population, water, soil test based integrated nutrient management, integrated pest management, in addition to sustainable soil management, harvest and post harvest management.
The state being one of the highest fertilizer and pesticides consuming regions in the country, the key factor leading to the difference in rice yields between A.P on one side and Punjab and Tamilnadu on the other is the proportionate share of groundwater irrigated area which is 62% in Punjab, 45% in Tamilnadu compared to 35% in A.P while
Punjab and Tamilnadu developed 99% and 60% of their ultimate ground water potential respectively. A.P developed less than 20% of its ground water potential. Ground water development, thus, appears crucial for stepping up rice yields.
Another crucial factor in this regard is the extent of irrigated rice area in Andhra Pradesh. Although rice is said to be irrigated to an extent of 95% of the area planted in the state, 50% is under tanks, wells and tube wells which in turn depend on the rainfall and good mansoon. How dependable is this source is known to every one. Thus, only 50% of the rice area gets assured irrigation water through canals under major projects.
A third and major factor which is pulling down the rice yields in the state is damage due to frequent cyclones and floods which are common at the time of harvest. Biotic and abiotic stresses are the other factors greatly influencing the yield gaps apart from others.
Reference:
http://www.rkmp.co.in/sites/default/fil ... desh_0.pdf
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The difference in Productivity is not that huge. Besides there is only so much land in the costal regions. Demand and Supply. Costal regions will be more productive but can only grow so much or certain types of crop at a given time. The productivity in Telangana region, in general, is better than the national average.
along with INC next month, unless there is an assured exodus from Seemandhra's MPs, MLAs, panchayat presidents from INC, YSRC, TDP. That is how things should be negotiated otherwise BJP will always remain poor.
