Agriculture in Palnadu 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 Palnadu itself. What actually trades in Palnadu's own mandis is listed below. Palnadu'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 (3 October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 🍚 Rice (Paddy) | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Oct-Nov) | ₹3,680/qtl |
| 🎋 Sugarcane | Plant: Feb-Mar (spring) or Oct-Nov (autumn), Harvest: 10-12 months | ₹350/qtl |
| 🥜 Groundnut | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Oct-Nov) | ₹6,913/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 Palnadu
These are the crops actually trading in Palnadu's markets (Gurazala APMC), with the modal price per quintal reported on 1 June 2026:
| Commodity | Min | Max | Modal Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chili Red | ₹11,000 | ₹22,000 | ₹17,500 |
Source: Agmarknet daily arrivals for Palnadu, Andhra Pradesh, as of 1 June 2026.
What Palnadu Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Palnadu's largest crops by area were Cotton, Rice (Paddy), Arhar (Tur/Pigeon Pea). Cotton alone covered 65,907 ha (35% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 598 kg/ha, 79% below the Andhra Pradesh average.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Andhra Pradesh avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton | 65,907 | 2,31,911 | 598 | 2,800 | - |
| Rice (Paddy) | 55,644 | 2,17,507 | 3,909 | 3,928 | - |
| Arhar (Tur/Pigeon Pea) | 30,638 | 38,786 | 1,266 | 475 | - |
| Maize (Corn) | 16,935 | 1,14,826 | 6,780 | 6,510 | - |
| Gram (Chana) | 8,398 | 17,904 | 2,132 | 1,063 | - |
| Tobacco | 8,220 | 23,123 | 2,813 | 2,254 | - |
| Urad (Black Gram) | 1,400 | 1,801 | 1,287 | 1,225 | - |
| Moong (Green Gram) | 257 | 269 | 1,046 | 907 | - |
| Sesame (Til) | 144 | 41 | 283 | 283 | - |
| Soybean | 93 | 98 | 1,046 | 1,321 | - |
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 Palnadu
Palnadu receives about 872 mm of rain in an average year, 65% of it in June-September. The wettest month is August (164 mm). Days are hottest in May (average high 41°C) and nights coolest in December (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 31°C, too warm for wheat to yield well; the cool season suits warm-tolerant pulses, oilseeds and vegetables better.
- May days average 41°C, so summer (zaid) crops and young orchards need frequent irrigation and mulching.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7 | 31° | 17° |
| February | 8 | 35° | 19° |
| March | 11 | 39° | 22° |
| April | 19 | 41° | 25° |
| May | 42 | 41° | 28° |
| June | 104 | 36° | 27° |
| July | 151 | 34° | 25° |
| August | 164 | 32° | 24° |
| September | 149 | 31° | 24° |
| October | 148 | 31° | 22° |
| November | 53 | 30° | 19° |
| December | 16 | 29° | 17° |
Source: NASA POWER long-term monthly averages (satellite and model based, so they can understate rain on coasts and hills) for the centre of Palnadu district (16.3231, 79.6975). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Palnadu Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Palnadu
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- Nalgonda, Telangana - 78 km
- NTR - 81 km
- Suryapet, Telangana - 85 km
- Bapatla - 91 km
- Prakasam - 91 km
- Guntur - 93 km
Land records and Farmer ID in Andhra Pradesh
Government Schemes for Palnadu Farmers
Farmers in Palnadu 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 Palnadu's rice growers, crop insurance, KCC and irrigation subsidies are the priority. Apply at the Palnadu district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.