Delineation of Efficient Paddy Cropping Zones in Andhra Pradesh

The research delineated efficient paddy crop zones in Andhra Pradesh. The area, yield and production of paddy were gathered from the Andhra Pradesh Department of Economics and Statistics to compute the Relative Spread Index (RSI) and Relative Yield Index (RYI). The definition of an efficient cultivation zone for paddy shows that in all nine districts of Andhra Pradesh there are numerous possibilities to increase overall paddy production. The primary source of irrigation is groundwater, comprising tubes and wells that cover 49 percent of net irrigation. The grade is of four types: Most Efficient Cropping Zone (MECZ) and Area Efficient Cropping Zone (AECZ) and Yield Efficient Cropping Zone(YECZ) and Not Efficient Cropping Zone (NECZ). It was noted that the West Godavari, East Godavari, Krishna, Guntur and Nellore are five districts inside Paddy's Most efficient cropping zone. Srikakulam and Vizianagaram are two districts within the Area efficient cropping zone. The Kurnool and Prakasam are two districts in which Yields efficient cropping zone. Visakhapatnam, Chittoor, Kadapa and Anantapur are four districts belong to the Not-efficient cropping zone. It is concluded that there was a lot of possibilities of increasing the overall production of paddy in all nine districts of Andhra Pradesh by delineating the efficient cropping zone for paddy. In the case of AECZ there is a need for popularisation of high-yielding cultivars, for better management technologies like the Rice Intensification System (RIS) and for integrated nutrient handling to increase yield levels and convert this zone into MECZ. In the case of YECZ, these sites offer promise for rice growing, although a decrease in water availability may be attributed to the less extensive area.