Rayagada

Rayagada district is popularly known for its longest human history, It lies between 82⁰ 54’ to 84⁰ 2’ East longitude and between 19⁰ 35′ to 19⁰ 58’ North latitude and the district covers an approximate area of 7,073 sq. km with 11 blocks. The district is predominantly a tribal populated district with 57.52 % of tribal population and literacy rate of 42.13%. The major tribes are Kandhos, Jhodias and Souras are inhabited in the district. The physiography of Rayagada gives a perfect platform for the tribals in sustaining their ethnocultural identity in the district. Forest area covers an extent of 4785.36 sq km out of which 777.27 sq. km is reserved forest. More than 70% of the total workforce in the district depend upon agriculture as their main source of livelihood along with timber product

The rainfall with an annual average rainfall of 1312 mm district and heaviest rainfall breaks between June and October. The soil type of district is mostly acidic red alluvial, black and mixed red soil groups. However sandy loam and black soil are also found in some parts of the district.

The major crops grown in the district are paddy, maize, jowar, bajra, millets, ragi, sugarcane, pulses, cotton tobacco, groundnuts and such other local oilseeds are grown in the district are groundnut, Niger, sesamum and mustard. Adding to these crops under horticultural crops like banans, citrus (orange and lemon) mango, coconuts, potatoes and such other fruit crops and vegetables are also grown in different places of the district.