Estimation and Analysis of Comprehensive Agricultural Development Indices in Telangana State, India: A District Wise Analysis

Abstract

Agricultural development is a multidimensional and continuous process that cannot be adequately assessed using a single indicator. This study measured the level and temporal pattern of agricultural development across the districts of Telangana State by constructing a Comprehensive Agricultural Development Index (CADI). Eight indicators representing crop, livestock, forestry, fishing, agricultural income, irrigation, fertiliser use, and cropping intensity were considered. A distance-based composite-index methodology using standardised indicators and the distance from the best-performing district was applied. The analysis covered nine districts using time-series data from 1990–91 to 2019–20; Hyderabad district was excluded because of its negligible agricultural activity. The CADI was interpreted inversely, with lower index values representing higher development and higher values representing lower development. The results showed considerable inter-district differences in agricultural development, although the disparities generally declined over time. Based on the overall CADI, Karimnagar was the most developed district, followed by Warangal and Nalgonda, whereas Adilabad recorded the lowest level of agricultural development. Multiple regression analysis further indicated that female literacy rate, number of cultivators, road length, fertiliser use, and irrigation intensity were significant determinants of agricultural development. The findings indicate that improvements in education, infrastructure, irrigation, and agricultural input use are important for strengthening comprehensive agricultural development and reducing spatial disparities across the districts of Telangana.