AP Farmers Eye Expansion in Pulse Crops

30-Jan-2026 05:59 PM

Vijayawada. Due to insufficient water availability in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, farmers are facing difficulties in cultivating paddy during the current Rabi season. 

Therefore, they are prioritizing the cultivation of pulse crops. Dams, reservoirs, and canals have limited water reserves, while paddy cultivation requires a significant amount of water.

Considering this, farmers in Andhra Pradesh have focused on cultivating crops that require less water and have a shorter maturity period, especially pulses.

According to the latest data from the Agriculture Department, the total area under Rabi crops in Andhra Pradesh has reached 17.05 lakh hectares this year, which is 82 percent of the normal average area of ​​20.69 lakh hectares. However, the sown area is slightly higher compared to last year.

A notable feature of the current Rabi season's sowing is that farmers have prioritized the cultivation of pulses over paddy.

The area under pulse cultivation has increased to 6.39 lakh hectares, which is 97 percent of the normal average area.

On the other hand, the area under paddy cultivation has reached only 5.80 lakh hectares, which is 78 percent of the average area. This clearly indicates the water scarcity in the region.

In the pulse crop category, the area under chickpea cultivation has reached 3.02 lakh hectares, and the crop condition is reported to be good. The flowering process has already begun.

In addition, 2.34 lakh hectares have been sown with black gram and 49,000 hectares with green gram in Andhra Pradesh. The condition of both these pulse crops is also reported to be encouraging.