Agri land continues to suffer in Andhra Pradesh

HYDERABAD: Agriculture in Andhra Pradesh is once again on the receiving end as more and more agricultural land makes way for other projects in the name of devolopment.

Tthis time, the international airport project at Shamsabad in Rengareddy district has taken big chunk of fertile land used to cultivate the castor crop in Andhra.

The real estate boom in the Hitech Hyderbad has also taken its toll on farm lands as more of these so-called devolopmental activities take palce there on a regular basis.

Ccaspor crop in particular has suffered most in the state as it lost 16250 hectares of land so far in Mehboob Nagar district. Nalgonda and Rangareddy districts which surround the capital has lost 30 to 40 percent of castor land in the last two years.

Tthough the state has gained some new castor areas in districts like Kurnool, the loss in traditional areas has not helped in increasing its national share of 25 percent.

Aandhra is only behind Gujarat which accounts for 65 percent of India's total castor production.