Smallholder farmers and agrarian distress in the dryland areas of Andhra Pradesh

There is phenomenal increase in the number of smallholder farmers in India as well as in Andhra Pradesh in particular. From this context, it is imperative to study issues and concerns of the smallholder farmers in dry lands regions. The Rayalaseema region is located in Andhra Pradesh well-known for dryland crops and droughts. This dryland region is often witnessing irregularities and shortfall of rainfall which impacting the farmers by adversely damaging the agriculture. Cropping patterns are mostly dryland crops like, cotton, groundnut, jowar, ragi, pulses etc. The region is frequently affected with droughts causing farmers to face distressing situations. Crops grown in this region is highly sensitive to rainfall, irregularities of rainfall often curse the smallholder farmers and make them to fall in the trap of indebtedness, seasonal migration. In this context this paper analyses the combination of smallholder farmers and agrarian distress in dry land areas of Andhra Pradesh. In more details, paper presents the challenges faced by smallholder farmers in dry land cropping and vulnerability in terms their livelihood aspects. Paper is analyzed by doing the primary study in a village Nagasamudram where large number smallholder farmers living in Ananthapuram district.