Agriculture in Visakhapatnam 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 Visakhapatnam itself. Visakhapatnam'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.
What Visakhapatnam Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Visakhapatnam's largest crops by area were Rice (Paddy), Maize (Corn), Ragi (Finger Millet). Rice (Paddy) alone covered 4,994 ha (79% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 3,563 kg/ha, 9% below the Andhra Pradesh average. The biggest shifts since 2019-20: Rice (Paddy) area -95%.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Andhra Pradesh avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rice (Paddy) | 4,994 | 17,792 | 3,563 | 3,928 | -95% |
| Maize (Corn) | 395 | 2,658 | 6,729 | 6,510 | -93% |
| Ragi (Finger Millet) | 298 | 716 | 2,402 | 1,456 | -98% |
| Sesame (Til) | 295 | 63 | 214 | 283 | -91% |
| Urad (Black Gram) | 211 | 280 | 1,326 | 1,225 | -97% |
| Groundnut | 50 | 174 | 3,487 | 1,151 | -98% |
| Bajra (Pearl Millet) | 35 | 89 | 2,551 | 2,310 | -97% |
| Sugarcane | 13 | 1,005 | 77,000 | 90,242 | -100% |
| Moong (Green Gram) | 8 | 7 | 902 | 907 | -100% |
| Arhar (Tur/Pigeon Pea) | 1 | 1 | 735 | 475 | -100% |
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 Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam receives about 1317 mm of rain in an average year, 66% of it in June-September. The wettest month is September (239 mm). Days are hottest in April (average high 37°C) and nights coolest in January (average low 15°C).
- Rain typically first crosses 100 mm a month in June, the usual cue for kharif sowing here.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6 | 27° | 15° |
| February | 12 | 31° | 18° |
| March | 16 | 35° | 21° |
| April | 35 | 37° | 24° |
| May | 72 | 37° | 26° |
| June | 175 | 32° | 25° |
| July | 225 | 30° | 24° |
| August | 236 | 29° | 24° |
| September | 239 | 29° | 24° |
| October | 211 | 28° | 22° |
| November | 70 | 27° | 18° |
| December | 20 | 26° | 16° |
Source: NASA POWER long-term monthly averages (satellite and model based, so they can understate rain on coasts and hills) for the centre of Visakhapatnam district (17.8053, 83.2828). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Visakhapatnam Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Visakhapatnam
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- Anakapalli - 56 km
- Vizianagaram - 56 km
- Alluri Sitharama Raju - 70 km
- Parvathipuram Manyam - 109 km
- Koraput, Odisha - 124 km
- Srikakulam - 129 km
Land records and Farmer ID in Andhra Pradesh
Government Schemes for Visakhapatnam Farmers
Farmers in Visakhapatnam 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 Visakhapatnam's rice growers, crop insurance, KCC and irrigation subsidies are the priority. Apply at the Visakhapatnam district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.