The Andhra Pradesh government has launched a comprehensive plan to promote 11 key agricultural crops as ‘Growth Engines’ with the aim of enhancing farmer incomes, streamlining crop production, and increasing overall productivity.
This initiative, presented as part of the recent Agriculture Budget by Agriculture Minister K Atchannaidu in the State Assembly, is a cornerstone of the Swarna Andhra @2047 vision, which aspires to grow the State’s economy to USD 2.4 trillion by 2047.
The plan positions agriculture and agri-tech as one of 10 foundational pillars to achieve a 15% annual growth rate. It prioritizes improving crop yields and expanding the adoption of natural farming methods.
The selected crops span various categories: cereals (maize, jowar, paddy, millets), pulses (black gram, red gram, bengal gram), oilseeds (groundnut, sesame), fibre crops (cotton), and commercial crops (tobacco).
According to top officials from the Agriculture Department, these crops serve multiple purposes—ranging from human food to livestock feed and even bio-fuel production.
With India’s goal of 20% ethanol blending in fuel, the demand for ethanol feedstock has grown significantly. As per the news report by The New Indian Express, While molasses from sugarcane is a traditional source for ethanol, the government is now encouraging maize-based ethanol production to meet the target, given its lower water consumption and cost-effectiveness.
Boosting maize cultivation for ethanol production could help diversify feedstock sources, reduce overdependence on sugarcane, and ensure consistent supply. Maize-based ethanol is not only more sustainable and water-efficient but also more economical.
By integrating maize into the ethanol value chain, the government aims to provide stable market demand, better price realization for farmers, and a reliable supply for distilleries—resulting in mutual benefits. Moreover, increased maize farming could support water conservation efforts, given its lower irrigation needs compared to paddy.
Paddy remains the dominant crop in Andhra Pradesh, with farmers largely cultivating medium slender varieties like Kurnool Sona Masoori, RNR, and Samba Masoori due to strong local consumption.
However, the Agriculture Department is now encouraging the cultivation of the ‘1010’ paddy variety, a 6 mm grain with significant export potential, particularly to African countries. While not commonly preferred in local markets, this variety could open new global revenue opportunities for farmers.
