Spatial-temporal growth and distribution of fruit crops in Andhra Pradesh.
Raju V. T., Rao D. V. S., Ravishankar C.
Author Affiliation: Dep. Agric. Economics, Andhra Pradesh Agric. Univ., Andhra Pradesh, India.
Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics 42 : 438-445
Abstract : Compound growth rates of acreage were estimated for important fruit crops such as plantain, mango, citrus, grapes, guava, pawpaw and cashews, as well as for total fresh fruits and total dry fruits in Andhra Pradesh for the 1967/68-1982/83 period. Annual fluctuations in area and production were studied on the basis of index numbers and their percentage change from year to year. The spatial distribution of fruit crops over three regions of the state over three time periods was also studied. The effect of gross value of output (proxy for prices) on acreage expansion was studied using a simple regression equation. Mango, citrus and cashew accounted for more than 88% of the total area under fruit. The increase in the area index in any year was not more than 5%. There was a continuous decline in fruit growing during 1974/75-1977/78. 70% of the total fruit crop area was concentrated in the coastal Andhra region. Poor orchard management, aged plantations, shortage of disease free planting material, pests and disease problems, low returns, non-adoption of recommended practices, and selling to pre-harvest contractors are major constraints in the development of fruit crops in Andhra Pradesh.