AGRICULTURE

Profile

Following the bifurcation of the districts in the state (GO No: 113 Revenue (lands-iv) on 26/01/2022) The Department of Agriculture commenced operations in the newly formed tirupati district from 04/04/2022. Main Objective of the department is to efficiently utilize the available resources and man power to empower farmers . This is achieved by delivering all department schemes at the doorsteps of the farmers.

Tirupati district is categorized under Southern Agro-Climatic Zone of Andhra Pradesh based on soil type, rainfall and altitude. There are 8 Agriculture Sub-Divisions, 34 mandals, 1051 revenue villages and 784 Grama panchayats in the district.

Based on the Soil Texture, Sandy Clay loams are predominant occupying 55% of the soils in the district, 32% are Sandy loams and 13% are clay loams.

Paddy is the predominant crop as most of the cultivated area comes under canals, tanks, wells and bore wells and in dry farming tracts of the zone Groundnut is the main crop. Whereas under canals, tanks, wells and bore wells double cropping is practiced with Rice. Sugarcane, Blackgram and Bajra occupies next place after Paddy and Groundnut. The area under Sunflower and Sesamum increasing gradually in the district.

Major Irrigation source in the district is Telugu Ganga Project canal which feeds the Tanks & Borewells in 17 mandals of district from the Kandaleru Reservoir and also three Medium Irrigation source projects i.e., Araniyar, Kalangi & Mallemadugu Reservoirs provides irrigation water.

Land Utilization Particulars – 2023-24
S.No.	Category	Area in hac.
S.No.	Category	Area in hac.
1	Total geographical area	822940
2	Forests	271318
3	Barren & uncultivable land	51035
4	Land put to non-agricultureal uses	182118
5	Culturable waste	24849
6	Permanent pastures and other grazing lands	20248
7	Land under miscellaneous tree crops & groves not included in net area sown	10845
8	Current fallows	75669
9	Other fallow lands	48596
10	Net Area Sown	134739
11	Gross Cropped Area	148084
12	Area Sown More than Once	13345
13	Fish & Prawn Culture	3523

Vision

Enforcing quality control on inputs like Fertilisers, seeds and pesticides is the primary activity.
Providing timely inputs for cultivation to the farmers
To empower the farmers with latest crop production technologies
To impart necessary knowledge, skills and new practices to the farmers (use of Nano fertilizers, HYV, IPM and INM methods, Drone Farming)
To educate farmers towards Digital technology in farming
Department is also focusing on Community based Natural Farming implementing PMDS and ATM models and also encouraging farmers towards Organic Certification leading to increased quality production to get Good Price in Market.

Organization Structure

Rythu Seva Kendralu

445 Rythu Seva Kendralu were established across the district and functioning since May 2020 and rendering incessant services “From seed to sale” of Agri and Allied sectors in a transparent manner at the village level. RSK is a one-stop shop for the supply of government – certified Agri inputs (Seeds, Fertilizers& Pesticides), Animal husbandry & Fisheries inputs to farmers and will have an attached workshop/knowledge center for giving scientific Agri. Advisories to the farmers.

Integrated Agri Labs

Integrated Agri Labs at Constituency Level in the State of Andhra Pradesh are established to ensure quality Agri inputs viz., seeds, fertilizers & pesticides to the farmers.

Six numbers of Constituency Level Integrated Agri Labs i.e., Chandragiri, Srikalahasthi, Gudur, Venkatagiri, Satyavedu and Sullurpet are in functioning. ADA (Regular) (in whose jurisdiction that the Constituency level Lab is present) acts as the supervising/monitoring officer. ADA(Regular) will be assisted with One AO and 2 AEOs. These Labs will analyze the samples submitted by the farmers and communicate the results and also analyze the samples sent from Regional coding centers. MAOs can draw service samples in his / her jurisdiction and get them analyzed in these Labs. Input Dealers also can get their Agricultural Inputs analyzed at Integrated Labs on payment basis.

District Resource Centre

District Resource Centre (DRC) is the knowledge and Human Resource Development centre for the Department of Agriculture in the District. DRC is headed by a District Training Coordinator supported by an ADA, Three Agricultural Officers and Office staff.

DRC caters the training and Capacity Building needs of the farmers and village level extension functionaries working in the District.
In addition to Departmental programmes DRC also conducts ATMA farmers Trainings, Field Diagnostic Visits with KVK, DATT center scientists to provide on spot farm advisories to farmers , field demonstration , exposure visits to farmers and Polambadi inspections .
DRC regularly conducts need based Virtual Trainings to framers, extension functionaries during crop season and also provide crop advisories through Print, Electronic and Social media.
DRC regularly arranges farm exhibitions and actively participate in all government flag ship programmes and celebrations and also arranges resource persons for various training programmes of Agriculture and allied Departments.

Soil Testing Laboratory

Soil Testing Laboratory under the Department of Agriculture is located in the premises of RARS campus, Tirupati, which has been established to support the Soil Health Card (SHC) program. Soil samples collected from farmers fields and received through Mandal Agriculture Officers are analyzed for Physical Parameters, pH, EC, Macronutrients(N, P, K), Secondary nutrients(Sulphur) and Micronutrients (Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn and Boron) and also to identify the problematic soils. After analysis generates soil health cards to distribute to the farmers . Analysis of water samples is also done for suitability of irrigating the crops. Farmers can also directly approach for analysis of the soil and water samples.

Soil Conservation wing

Soil Conservation wing is a unit in the department that is dedicated to protect and improve soil resources. They implement various soil conservation measures to prevent soil degradation, promote sustainable land management and to promote watersheds to enhance agricultural productivity.

Seed Multiplication Farm, Nagalapuram

Seed Multiplication Farm is located at Nagalapuram and it works on production of foundation seed under buy back agreement with APSSDCL as per requirement and also provide quality seed to the farmers for implementing seed village programme in the district.

Schemes/Activities

Soil Testing

Soil sampling and soil testing programme is organized in a systematic manner to evaluate the fertility status and to identify the problematic soils (alkaline/saline ) if any, to improve fertility and to adopt balanced and integrated use of fertilizer and thereby reducing cost of cultivation on. The Scheme is implemented under Soil Health & Fertility –RKVY .Given target of soil samples are collected from farm holdings of villages in every mandal and after analysis, the soil health cards are distributed to the farmers. The results will be uploaded in soil health card portal.

Subsidy Seed Distribution

Seed is a critical determinant in increasing the Agricultural production. Certified/ quality seed plays an important role in achieving higher yields. Supply of seed (Green manure, Groundnut, Paddy, Horse gram, Sesamum) on subsidy aims that the marginal farmers can able to purchase the most critical input in agriculture .

From Kharif 2020 season onwards for the first time in Andhra Pradesh the Subsidy seed distribution is decentralized and taken to village level for the benefit of the farming community, so that the required seed will reach to farmer doorsteps. The certified/truthfully labeled seed is supplied through the seed supplying nodal agency, APSSDCL, Srikalahasti to the farmers on subsidy approved by the Government. Aadhar enabled Bio- Metric system introduced in seed distribution for maintaining transparency and to avoid malpractices. Department is also distributing seed minikits under FNS-pulses, NFSM-OS schemes with an aim to introduce and popularize latest released High yielding varieties/hybrids and their promotion and spread among farmers.

Fertilizer Distribution

Fertilizer distribution is decentralized and taken to village level for the benefit of the farming community, so that the required fertilizer will reach to farmer doorsteps at the right time. under PM PRANAM scheme Department is encouraging use of variety of fertilizers including Organic and Bio-fertilizers to maintain soil health and ensure optimum crop yields and also discouraging excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in Agriculture.

Quality Control

Keeping in view that the quality inputs, (viz., Seeds, Fertilizers, Pesticides) reaches to the farmers, the ADAs (Regular) and Mandal Agriculture Officers conduct regular inspections to the input shops and take samples of all the inputs for analysis in notified laboratories to check the inflow of spurious inputs into the market. Action will be initiated on the sub-standard samples as per the provisions contained in the Acts.

Annadatha Sukhibhava –PM KISAN (Pradhanmantri Kisan Samman Nidhi):

The scheme aims to supplement the financial needs of all landholding farmers’ families in procuring various inputs to ensure proper crop health and appropriate yields, commensurate with the anticipated farm income as well as for domestic needs. The Government has announced financial assistance of Rs.20,000/- per annum per farmer family through “Annadatha Sukhibhava- PM KISAN” Scheme ( which includes benefit of Rs.6000/- provided by the GOI under PM KISAN) who collectively own cultivable land and ROFR land cultivators. The financial assistance will also be provided to all landless cultivators in the state @ Rs.20000/ per year from the State budget.

Agricultural Credit:

For a long time, the major source of agricultural credit was private money lenders. But this source of credit was inadequate, highly expensive and exploitative. To curtail this, multi- agency approach consisting of cooperatives, commercial banks and regional rural banks has been adopted to provide cheaper, timely and adequate credit (crop loans& term loans) especially to small and marginal farmers.

CCRCs (Crop Cultivator Rights Cards):

These cards are issued to tenant farmers with the mutual agreement of landowner and cultivar countersigned by the respective VRO & Tahsildar. CCRC entitles rights on Crop for a period of 11 months and tenant farmers are eligible for availing crop loans from banks and the benefits of various Govt. welfare schemes such as Annadatha Sukhibhava , Vaddi Leni Panta Runalu, Input Subsidy, Crop Insurance & Procurement.

Farm Mechanization:

Farm mechanization refers to the development and use of machines that can take the place of human and animal power in agricultural processes and removes the drudgery associated with agricultural labour, overcomes time and labour bottlenecks to perform tasks within optimum time. Department is distributing farm implements to individual farmers from Rabi 2024-25 on subsidy basis under SMAM Scheme.

Village level Farm Machinary Banks with Kisan Drones

Kisan drones are being used for Spraying of insecticides and nutrients. Government is promoting Drone usage by establishing village level Farm Machinary Banks with Kisan Drones by providing 80% subsidy and also training to selected pilots.

Crop Insurance:

PMFBY- Yield Based: Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is a comprehensive crop insurance scheme launched by the Government of India in 2016 and is currently being implemented in Andhra Pradesh. The Notified crops are as follows.

Kharif Season –Paddy (VIU), Bajra (DIU)

Rabi Season – Paddy (VIU), Groundnut (MIU), Mango (MIU)

RWBCIS – Weather Based:(Re-Structured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme) is a component of the PMFBY designed to provide insurance coverage to farmers against crop losses due to adverse weather conditions such as rainfall, temperature, wind speed, and humidity as proxies for crop yields. The Notified crops for Kharif Season are Groundnut (MIU), Acid Lime (MIU)

To avail the scheme, the farmers need to pay the required premium within timelines and submit the necessary documents as per the procedures.

e-Panta

e-Panta is a digital initiative by the state government for digitally recording the farmer wise crop sown particulars to benefit real cultivator with geofencing in all the land parcels through Joint-Azmoish by agriculture and revenue departments. It is identified as single source of truth for all the farmer welfare programmes i.e crop insurance, MSP crop procurements, input subsidy and crop loans.

Natural Calamities

The govt. is providing immediate relief to the famers for the crops damaged due to notified due to Natural Calamities i.e Cyclone/ Heavy rains/ Unseasonal rains/ Drought/ Floods/ Hailstorms Immediate relief will be provided to the affected farmers whose crops are damaged more than 33 percent loss due to notified natural calamity. If damage is less than 33%, department will prepare contingency plan for supply of alternate crops seed on subsidy in case of late onset of monsoon/dry spells/cyclones/floods.

Farmer’s Suicides Financial Assistance:

Providing financial assistance of Rs. 7.00 lakhs to the family members of the deceased farmers/ Tenant farmers, who commit suicide due to agrarian reasons as a rehabilitation package to support the families of the farmers in respect of the cases reported after 01.06.2019.

Exgratia of 7.00 lakhs sanctioned by Special Commissioner of Agriculture (A.P), Guntur through District Collector as per G.O. Rt.No.102 Agril. & Coop. (AGRI.II) Dept. Dt.14.10.2019 and G.O. Ms.No.43 Agril. & Coop.(AGRI.II) Dept. Dt. 20.02.2020

Seed Village Programme:

The Seed Village Programme (SVP) is one of the most important components of the Sub-mission on Seeds and Planting Materials (SMSP) under Nation Mission on Agriculture Extension & Technology (NMAET) being implemented in the district to improve the quality of Farm Saved Seeds, to increase the Seed Replacement Rate (SRR) and to enhance the horizontal spread of high yielding varieties among farmers for improving the productivity of crops.

GAP-Polambadi:

To educate the farmers for 14 weeks from seed to seed on integrated crop management & to enhance the crop yields though eco friendly organic farming in a scientific manner in each RSK village involving ANGRAU scientists and DRCs for evaluation to ensure quality control and global market access, the government is implementing GAP-Polambadi across and Ind-GAP Certification (Indian Good Agricultural Practices) ensuring improved crop quality, market accessibility and better price realization to farmers produce.

This certification will allow local farmers to gain premium pricing in both domestic and national markets. Scheduled for completion by March 2026, this initiative is funded under RKVY (60:40 Central:State).

Polam Pilusthondi:

The programme is aimed to strengthen the extention reach at farmers doorstep. The programme is organized on every Tuesday and Wednesday of the week in all the mandals (2 villages/day) by department of agriculture along with allied departments and scientists duely involving public representatives and scientists.

NFSM-FNS -Pulses and Nutri-Cereals:

Food and Nutrition Security Mission which is a Centrally Sponsored scheme, is launched during October, 2007, to increase the area expansion and production of food crops. The aim of the scheme is to raise the income of the farmers through enhanced technologies and farm management practices and to ensure food security in the country. Cluster Demonstrations are organized in Blackgram, Bajra under FNS scheme in the district.

NMEO-OS:

NFSM-OS and will be implemented together with NFSM and other centrally sponsored schemes (CSS) under “Krishionnati Yojana” from 2022-23 onwards with an objective to augment the availability of vegetable oils and to reduce the import of edible oils by increasing the production and productivity of vegetable oils sourced from Oilseeds. Cluster Demonstrations in Groundnut and sunflower are organized in the district.

Rodent Control Programme :

Rodent Control Programme aims to reduce crop losses and improve food grain quality by managing rodent populations. It is implemented during specific seasons (June-September for Kharif, October-March for Rabi). Under this programme the Rodenticide chemical, Bromadiolone (0.25 percent CB) is distributed to the farmers on 100% subsidy @ 8 to 10 gm/ha depending on the severity of rodent infestation and the whole village area proposed is covered in a campaign mode.

APILIP:

The Government of Andhra Pradesh is implementing “Andhra Pradesh Irrigation and Livelihood Improvement Project Phase –II from December 2017 with assistance from Japan International Cooperation Agency(JICA) with an objective to increase the local productivity, strengthen institutional and marketing capacities by rehabilitating existing irrigation systems, supporting integrated farming systems and strengthening value chain development intern contributing toward improvement of livelihoods of farmers and other rural communities in the project area of the district.

APIIATP:

Andhra Pradesh Integrated Irrigation and Agriculture Transformation Project, assisted by World Bank is being implemented by department of Agriculture in 27 tank villages in the district. The main objectives of the APIIATP project is to enhance crop production by crop diversification and Intensification, providing infrastructure development and also providing Training and capacity building to farmers by conducting Polambadi & Cluster Demonstrations.

Andhra Pradesh Community Natural Farming (APCNF)

To encourage chemical-free and eco-friendly farming, the government is expanding Andhra Pradesh Community Natural Farming (APCNF) across multiple villages in Tirupati district.This initiative promotes low-cost, regenerative agricultural practices, ensuring that farmers shift away from synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

Naravaripalli cluster is exclusively selected for implementation of APCNF with a mission to convert entire area under natural farming by the end of 2026.

Contacts

District Training Coordinator- District Resource Centre: Mobile No:8331057872

Assistant Director of Agriculture- Soil Testing Lab, Tirupati: Mobile No: 8331057881

Assistant Director of Agriculture –Soil Conservation, Tirupati: Mobile No.8331057855

District Project Manager, APCNF, Tirupati: Mobile No.: 8919388173

Regional Coding Centre, TIrupati: Mobile No. 8331057883

ADAs & MAOs Contact Numbers in the District
S.No	Sub-Division	ADA/MAO	Mobile Number
1	Tirupati	ADA, TIRUPATI	8331057753
2		MAO,Tirupathi Urban,	8331057842
3		MAO, Tirupathi Rural	8331057843
4		MAO, Renigunta	8331057840
5		MAO, Pakala	8331057838
6		MAO, Chandragiri	8331057836
7		M.A.O., Chinnagottigallu	8331057825
8		M.A.O., Yerravaripalem	8331057826
9	Puttur	ADA,PUTTUR	8331057749
10		MAO, Vadamalapeta	8331057818
11		MAO, Narayanavanam	8331057820
12		MAO, Ramachandrapuram	8331057819
13		MAO, Puttur	8331057815
14	Srikalahasti	ADA,SRIKALAHASTI	8331057754
15		M.A.O., Srikalahasti	8331057830
16		M.A.O., Yerpedu	8331057831
17		M.A.O., Thottambedu	8331057832
18		M.A.O., K.V.B.Puram	8331057833
19		M.A.O., B.N.Kandriga	8331057834
20	Sathyavedu	ADA,SATYAVEDU	8331057756
21		MAO, Satyavedu	8331057772
22		MAO, Varadaiahpalyem	8331057773
23		MAO, Nagalapuram	8331057774
24		MAO, Pichatur	8331057775
25	Gudur	ADA,GUDUR	8331057199
26		MAO, Gudur	8331057265
27		MAO, Ozili	8331057268
28		MAO Chillakur	8331057267
29	Naidupet	ADA,NAIDUPET	8331057200
30		MAO, Naidupet	8331057270
31		MAO, Vakadu	8331057275
32		MAO, Chittamur	8331057274
33		MAO, Pellakur	8331057271
34		MAO, Kota	8331057276
35	Sullurpeta	ADA,SULLURPETA	8331057201
36		MAO, Sullurpeta	8331057277
37		MAO, D.V Satram	8331057278
38		MAO, Tada	8331057279
39	Venkatagiri	ADA, VENKATAGIRI	8331057202
40		MAO, Venkatagiri,	8331057280
41		MAO, Balayapalli,	8331057281
42		MAO, Dakkili,	8331057283

EMAIL AND POSTAL ADDRESS

Mail Id : agri.daotpt@gmail.com

Address : District Agriculture Officer,

Room.No.609, B Block, Padmavathi Nilayam,

O/o District Collectorate,

Tirupati-517503. Mobile No : 8331057884

Related Website URLs/APPs/Call Centers

Related Apps :

Agri Central
Vyavasaayam
Plantix
NPSS

Call Centres:

Integrated Call Centre: 155251

Kisan Call Centre: 1800-180-1551