Pattern of Commercial Farming in Guntur District

Guntur District V N Reddy In recent debates on the changes in Indian agriculture, commercial farming occupies an important place. Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh is regarded as one of the leading areas in regard to commercialisation of agriculture. The district is well known for tobacco and chillies. After the advent of the Nagarjuna Sagar waters in 1968-69, it has gained a distinct place in the country's cotton map on account of its significant contribution to the production of import-substituting superior long and extra-long staple cottons like MCU-5, Varalaxmi and Suvin. The cultivation of these varieties of cotton requires substantial monetary outlays as welt as careful application of techniques like crop rotation, preparatory tillage, etc, for better yields. During the period 1970-71 to 1979-80, there has been a four-fold increase in the average value per hectare from the cotton crop in Guntur district.