Proximity to the sea as well as to agricultural heartland has helped Nellore district to grow. The seaborne trade from Mipadu, Krishnapatnam and other port cities in district is on rise, but insignificant compared to trade via the road and rail.
Agriculture
Nellore is also famous for quality rice production and aqua (prawn and fish) culture. Nellore district is called the "Shrimp capital of India" due to its high production of cultured shrimp. About 70 percent of the total work force is dependent upon agriculture either as farmers or as agricultural labour. The main crops are rice paddy and sugar cane. It is particularly famous for a rice breed called "Molagolukulu". Other crops are cotton, lemon and oil seeds (like peanuts) and horticultural seeds.
A dam is located at Somasila across the Pennar River as it flows through the narrow Velikonda Hills. Another dam is located at Gandipalem across a tributary of Pennar. They support irrigation for many villages.
Industry
The handloom sector is a small scale industry and next to agriculture by the number of people depend on it. Venkatagiri and Patur are important handloom centres in the district noted for their traditional handcrafted fine cotton and silk sarees embrodied with pure zari.
The following are major industries located in Sri Potti Sri Ramulu Nellore District
SHAR (Sri Harikota High Altitude Range) located in Sriharikota, Nellore Dt.
