Pattern of Cultivation and Crop Holiday Conditions in the Delta Region of Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

Konaseema, comprising of sixteen fertile mandals, is often called the rice bowl of Andhra Pradesh - but it may have to change this moniker soon since 40,000 farmers in thirteen out of the sixteen mandals did not cultivate their land in the year 2011. An unviable minimum support price (MSP) for rice as well as other factors forced farmers in Andhra Pradesh to leave their lands fallow. When the farmers do not sow the crop and leave the land fallow, it is termed as Crop Holiday. The main objective of the present study is to concentrate on the prototype of cropping and reasons for declaration of crop holiday by the farmers, explore the factors that lead to crop holiday, its consequences, and to suggest some remedial measures.