AGROCLIMATIC ATLAS OF ANDHRA PRADESH

Abstract

Climate is the paramount factor determining the sustainability of agricultural systems. Properties of climate derived from long-term observations employing appropriate statistical tools ensure that the usual range of variation in the climatic parameters is known. Notwithstanding the difficulties in short-term accurate weather forecast, a proper understanding on the climate prevailing over a region is essential to improve the productivity of agricultural systems. The benefits of understanding the weather aberrations help in the establishment of techniques and controls that foster a healthier agricultural planning. Growing concern for food security and dearth of proper understanding on the impacts of impending global warming on cropping patterns and agricultural output are posing great challenges to agricultural scientists and policy planners charged with managing the risks associated with farming. Changes in technology, climate variability and new options for value-added crops mean producers require more detailed climate, soils and moisture information. To develop new genetic strains and evolving the most effective agricultural practices, detailed climatic information is required, especially on rainfall, atmospheric temperature, humidity and other parameters. In view of this, agroclimatic atlas of Andhra Pradesh state has been prepared. The purpose of this atlas is to present climatic information of importance to agriculture in the state and to make that information easily available to all stakeholders including agricultural producers, entrepreneurs and researchers. Authors of this atlas have made a painstaking analytic work at the micro-level and I believe that besides catering to the needs of the farmers and agricultural scientists of Andhra Pradesh, this atlas will serve as a reference material to different stakeholders both at the state and national level. I extend my heartiest congratulations to the authors for their untiring efforts in preparing a very comprehensive, relevant and useful document