Andhra Pradesh was
constituted on 1st November 1956. It has a long coastline of 974 km. and
forest cover of 23 per cent of its land area. Agriculture is the main
occupation of 70 per cent of the people. The net irrigated area is 4.384
million hectares. The main crops of the region are rice, tobacco,
vegetables and fruit like mangoes, grapes and bananas. The State is rich
in minerals such as copper ore, manganese, mica, coal and limestone. The
main industries are pharmaceuticals, fertilizers, electric and
electronic equipment, chemicals, computers and software, aeronautical
parts, cement, asbestos, glass, watches, and several other goods and
products. The State has a rich cultural tradition of textiles, arts and
crafts. It has hot summers and mild winters and annually on an average
receives 86 cm. of rainfall.