Agriculture, Policy and Food Security in Andhra Pradesh

The study has analyzed the agricultural and macro economic factors significant for foodgrain production in Andhra Pradesh. The data were collected for the period 1991–92 to 2009–10 from the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Hyderabad and various other published reports. Multiple linear regression tests were used to analyze the influence of various factors and parameters on foodgrain production and consequently on food security in Andhra Pradesh. The study has observed a negative and significant influence of credit, forest area, net sown area, cattle population, area under fish ponds and deviation in rainfall on foodgrain production and has suggested the necessity of intervention by policymakers and government in these areas for attaining food security in Andhra Pradesh on a sustained basis. However, the macro economic factors have synergistically influenced the food security of Andhra Pradesh during the study period.