Agriculture in East Godavari District: East Coast Plains and Hills
Andhra Pradesh falls mainly in the East Coast Plains and Hills agro-climatic zone (hot humid, 780-1300mm of rain a year across the zone), where deltaic rice bowls (Kaveri, Godavari, Mahanadi) with coconut and chilli is typical. Soils in this zone are mostly alluvial coastal and red loam soil. Crops commonly grown across the zone include Rice (Paddy), Sugarcane, Groundnut, Coconut, chilli, oilseeds.
These are zone-level facts (ICAR / Planning Commission agro-climatic classification), not a crop census of East Godavari itself. What actually trades in East Godavari's own mandis is listed below. East Godavari's own month-by-month rainfall and temperatures are in the climate section.
Crop Calendar for the East Coast Plains and Hills
| Crop | Season & Window | All-India rate (16 October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 🍚 Rice (Paddy) | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Oct-Nov) | ₹3,750/qtl |
| 🎋 Sugarcane | Plant: Feb-Mar (spring) or Oct-Nov (autumn), Harvest: 10-12 months | ₹350/qtl |
| 🥜 Groundnut | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Oct-Nov) | ₹7,300/qtl |
| 🥥 Coconut | Year-round perennial (peak: Nov-Jan) | ₹5,550/qtl |
| chilli | Local seasonal crop | - |
| oilseeds | Local seasonal crop | - |
Soil, Water & Irrigation
Drip and sprinkler subsidies (45-90%) and a solar pump cut water and power costs. Because soils vary field to field inside a zone, a free soil health card is the only reliable guide to what your own plot needs.
Mandi Prices in East Godavari
These are the crops actually trading in East Godavari's markets (Ravulapelem APMC, Kovvur APMC), with the modal price per quintal reported on 1 June 2026:
| Commodity | Min | Max | Modal Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banana | ₹1,600 | ₹4,700 | ₹2,800 |
| Paddy(Common) | ₹2,400 | ₹2,400 | ₹2,400 |
Source: Agmarknet daily arrivals for East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh, as of 1 June 2026.
What East Godavari Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, East Godavari's largest crops by area were Rice (Paddy), Maize (Corn), Tobacco. Rice (Paddy) alone covered 1,33,485 ha (88% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 4,435 kg/ha, 13% above the Andhra Pradesh average. The biggest shifts since 2019-20: Tobacco area +119%, Urad (Black Gram) area -81%.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Andhra Pradesh avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rice (Paddy) | 1,33,485 | 5,92,068 | 4,435 | 3,928 | -66% |
| Maize (Corn) | 7,263 | 75,605 | 10,409 | 6,510 | -28% |
| Tobacco | 5,812 | 15,710 | 2,703 | 2,254 | +119% |
| Urad (Black Gram) | 2,762 | 3,905 | 1,414 | 1,225 | -81% |
| Sugarcane | 650 | 53,444 | 82,160 | 90,242 | -92% |
| Groundnut | 536 | 1,862 | 3,473 | 1,151 | +255% |
| Gram (Chana) | 483 | 818 | 1,692 | 1,063 | -75% |
| Moong (Green Gram) | 103 | 99 | 960 | 907 | -99% |
| Sesame (Til) | 92 | 22 | 243 | 283 | -96% |
| Jowar (Sorghum) | 57 | 379 | 6,690 | 3,459 | -96% |
Source: Directorate of Economics & Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Govt of India (final estimates), via UPAg. Field crops only - vegetables, fruit and spices are counted separately. Andhra Pradesh average = sum of the state's district estimates.
Climate & Sowing Windows in East Godavari
East Godavari receives about 1173 mm of rain in an average year, 64% of it in June-September. The wettest month is October (220 mm). Days are hottest in April (average high 39°C) and nights coolest in January (average low 17°C).
- Rain typically first crosses 100 mm a month in June, the usual cue for kharif sowing here.
- January days still average 30°C, too warm for wheat to yield well; the cool season suits warm-tolerant pulses, oilseeds and vegetables better.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5 | 30° | 17° |
| February | 9 | 33° | 19° |
| March | 11 | 37° | 22° |
| April | 25 | 39° | 25° |
| May | 58 | 38° | 27° |
| June | 154 | 34° | 26° |
| July | 205 | 31° | 25° |
| August | 194 | 30° | 24° |
| September | 201 | 30° | 24° |
| October | 220 | 30° | 23° |
| November | 70 | 29° | 20° |
| December | 21 | 28° | 18° |
Source: NASA POWER long-term monthly averages (satellite and model based, so they can understate rain on coasts and hills) for the centre of East Godavari district (16.9957, 81.7154). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For East Godavari Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near East Godavari
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- West Godavari - 41 km
- Kakinada - 52 km
- Konaseema - 55 km
- Eluru - 68 km
- Krishna - 114 km
- Anakapalli - 135 km
Land records and Farmer ID in Andhra Pradesh
Government Schemes for East Godavari Farmers
Farmers in East Godavari are eligible for PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Kisan Credit Card, Soil Health Card Scheme, PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, eNAM - National Agriculture Market and more. For East Godavari's rice growers, crop insurance, KCC and irrigation subsidies are the priority. Apply at the East Godavari district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.