INDUSTRIES

Agriculture is divided, based on the amount of rainfall an area gets. In wet areas, rice and sugarcane dominate but in the dry interiors, millets, gram and sorghum are grown. Andhra also has a thriving viticulture (grapes) industry.

Singareni fields in lower Godavari valley mines coal. Pure Iron ore is found in the North. Golconda is known for its diamonds like the Kohinoor. Around Hyderabad, high tech industries are springing up fast. Iron and steel, Ship building and heavy Engineering Industries are found in coastal regions, especially Vishakhapatnam.

The crafts Industry of Andhra Pradesh is well known all over India. There are the ‘Bidriware’ articles ranging from large boxes, vases, jewelry, and plates to cufflinks and buttons. This work is done on a kind of dark metal (alloy of copper and zinc, sometimes using tin and even lead) inlaid with silver and brass in beautiful floral designs and geometric and arabesque patterns. Hyderabad flourishes in the ‘Pearl Industry’, where millions of pearls are imported from Japan and sold in the domestic market as well as exported. The ‘Toy Industry’ of Andhra Pradesh is quite unique. The bright colors of the ‘Kondapalli Toys’ find themselves displayed in miniature wooden figures, fruits, vegetables, birds and other animals. ‘Nirmal toys’, on the other hand are more natural looking and have a glossy golden finish bestowed upon them using a herbal extract. Nirmal is also famous for its painted pottery. Fantastic colored lacquer toys are found in ‘Ethikoppaka’ whereas the ‘Tirupati Toys’ are made of red wood. Beautifully carved sandalwood figurines of deities are also found in Andhra Pradesh.

The Jewelry Industry uses cultured pearls, real pearls and silver filigree ware from Karim nagar. Gold and uncut precious stones jewelry is also popular. Women wear Glass bangles from Hyderabad all over India.

Another major industry of Andhra Pradesh, is the Textile Industry. Richly woven patterns made in fabrics of cotton and silk as well as ‘Himru’ shawls are well known. They are distinct because of the use of a special handloom in their making. More intricate brocade work is also produced here. This work is hand made. Special ‘Ikali Fabric Weaving’ has also been revived in villages like Chirala, Putta paka, Pochampalli, Koyyalagudem etc. The different threads are dyed before being woven and oil is also used in the process. Different towns produce their own special weaves, which are all slightly or quite different from one another. Textiles using hand block printings are also produced.