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 lakhs are Agricultural labourers as per 1991 census.
This
district is categorized under Southern Agro climatic zone of Andhra
Pradesh basing on Soil
type, Rainfall and Altitude. The zone is predominantly occupies Ground
nut area followed by Rice. Ground nut cropping system occupies maximum
area of the zone. 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.
Average
rainfall of the district is 918.1mm and it is distributed among the
seasons.
South –west
monsoon 427.0
North-East monsoon 391.1
Winter period 12.0
Hot weather period 88.0
Total : 918.1
42% of the rain fall of the district is received during the S.W monsoon and
it is very important for rainfed Groundnut in the district. Deficiency and
ill distribution of rainfall will leads to delayed sowings and crop failure
in the district. 45% of the rainfall is received during N.E 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 are directly related to
the quantum of rainfall received during Kharif and Rabi Seasons. The details
of rain fall received in the district from 1973 -74 to 2000-01 is furnished
in the Table
Maximum temperature in the western parts of
the district is around 36º to
38ºC and in eastern parts it touches 46ºC. Minimum temperature in
western parts is around 12ºC to 14ºC and in eastern parts it is 16ºC
to 18ºC.
There are no live rivers existing in the district. Hence the possibility of major
irrigation projects is very limited. Even though the low and irregular rainfall
and poor soil fertility status, farmers accustomed to ground nut cultivation.
Under wells and tube wells 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 protecting of forest wealth
The major crops in the district is ground nut, paddy, and sugarcane. In Horticulture
the mango is 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 are vast potentialities in the district for development of floriculture,
spices, and plantation crops such as coffee, aarecanut. For floriculture existence
of pilgrimage centers like Tirumala, Sri Kalahasti and Kanipakam located in the
district is an added advantage for its rapid cultivation. The available different
voluntary organizations and Self Help Groups and farmers organizations, Primary
Agricultural Cooperative societies can be utilized in effective manner to increase
the production in all the enterprises.