Changes in Agricultural Land-use Pattern in Andhra Pradesh — An Analysis Kumari R. Vijaya Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Agriculture, Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad-500 030, Andhra Pradesh Online published on 10 September, 2013. Abstract The paper has investigated trends in land-use pattern in Andhra Pradesh agriculture based on the secondary data for the period 1998–99 to 2010–11. Using temporal analysis, the study has revealed increase in the areas under forests, non-agricultural uses, miscellaneous tree crop and groves, net sown area, total cropped area and area sown more than once. In contrast, the areas under barren and unculturable land, permanent pastures and other grazing lands, culturable waste land, fallow land other than current fallows and current fallows have declined. Across food crops, the land-use under total foodgrains has witnessed an increase of 4.63 per cent in area. Though there is not much variation in the land area under cereals, the area under pulses has recorded an increase of 4.59 per cent to net sown area during the study period. Similarly, the area under fruits has increased by 1.84 per cent. In the case of non-food crops, the areas under oilseeds, drugs, narcotics and plantation crops and fodder crops have decreased. However, there is a positive variation in the areas under fibre crops (3.92%), green manure (0.16%) and other non-food crops (1.02%) indicating diversification of farming in Andhra Pradesh. The study has concluded that market driven changes in land-use pattern need policy support for growth, diversification and sustainability of agriculture in the state. Top Keywords Land-use, agricultural diversification, sustainability, Andhra Pradesh. Top |