Andhra Pradesh is known as the rice bowl of India (80% of the crop cultivated in Andhra is rice). Other crops include jowar, bajra, maize, ragi, small millets, pulses, castor, tobacco, cotton, teak, eucalyptus, cashew, casuarina, bamboo, soft wood.

Andhra Pradesh was once part of Chennai (earlier Madras). The Britishers had annexed the properties of the Nizam of Hyderabad and made one big province of Madras. It was only after Independence that the Telugu-speaking areas of this state were separated and a new Andhra state was formed on October 1, 1953. But Hyderabad was still a separate state until November 1, 1956 when it was merged with Andhra Pradesh.

Andhra Pradesh stands second in deposits of minerals of strategic importance and sixth with regard to their value produced. Andhra Pradesh has the largest deposits of quality chrysolite asbestos in the country. The state ranks sixth in manganese ore production and second in mica and limestone production. The Singareni Coal Mines supply coal to the entire south India.

Charminar, Salarjung Museum, Golconda Fort in Hyderabad, Thousand Pillar Temple and Fort in Warangal, Sri Venkateswara Temple at Tirumala-Tirupathi are the major tourist attractions in Andhra Pradesh.