1. AGRICULTURE: FARMERS CLOSE TO NATURE IN WEST GARO HILLS
AZAD ABUL
1
1. M.Sc.(Agriculture), NDRI, Karnal, Haryana-132001
Email:abulazad45@gmail.com
Key Words: Agriculture, Nature, Farmer, GDP, Cultivation
1.1 INTRODUCTION
Agriculture is the backbone of Indian economy;It contributes 13.9 percent of total
India’sGDP.Agricultureis the key indicator for the progress of a country. It is the means of
livelihood for two-thirds of our population and is an important source of raw materials for
several industries. In India more than 70 percent farmers are small and marginal and few
percent people are large farmer. Farmers are very close to nature and fully depend on the
climatic condition for their survival. In India, North-Eastern Region is somewhat lacking
behind in term of social &economical Development, transport & communication system,
infrastructure development, Agricultural development etc. But if we see the contribution of
NER to the Indian GDP then it is the matter of great concern. The North-Eastern Region
(NER) of India comprising the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya,
Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura occupies about seven per cent of total land area
and four per cent of total population of the country. About fifty-seven per centof the
geographical area of NER is covered by forests, which are mostly under private or
community ownership. Agriculture is the prime source of livelihood for the majority (85%)
of rural population in this region. It is characterized by subsistence, low input-low output,
technologically lagged mixed farming system, and is dominated by smallholders. Although
cereals dominate the cropping pattern in this region, livestock are an important component
of mixed farming system and dependence on livestock as an alternative source of income is
significant. Further, because of social and religious acceptance, the consumption of meat is
relatively higher in this region, and that of milk and milk products is lower.
1.2 Agricultural challenged in Meghalaya
Meghalaya is one of the major states in NER situated between 25:47’-26:10’ N latitude and
89:45’-92:47’ E longitude covers an area of 22,429 sq. km. The state is a conglomeration of
undulating hills except plain belt region of west garo hills with east west orientation. It
represents a picturesque landscape of plateau, Lakes, Rivers, waterfalls and valleys. The
conducive climate together with favourable geographic position which invites the cultivar
to grow their traditional crop for food security. The plain belt region of west garo hills also
2. we can referred as the “rice bowl of Meghalaya”, where most of the farmers are small and
marginal. The farming pattern of plain region are Aus, Aman and Bororice used to follow
with some limitation with the tribal farmers (Garo’s) as the garo community is depends on
the jhuminng cultivation and cashew nut, Areca nut, betel leaves etc. production. The
region is situated nearby the bank of Brahmaputra valley so the lands are very fragile and
fertile which is the main reason to get maximum crop production. The major rice varieties
use by the farmers are IR-8, Sonali, Kaveri, Pankaj, Megha-1, ACI-555, Jaya, Manohar, Doyal
etc. Other than that Maize, Wheat, Barley, Jute, Cotton and in vegetables Potato, Brijal ,
Cabbage, Cauliflower, Cucumber, Pumpkin, Bottle gouard, Aram, Sponge gouard, in root
crops Topioca, Casssava, Yam, Among the Spicy Crops Onion, Garlic, Corriander, Mustard
are also accountable.
Animal husbandry is one of the allied sectors in agriculture which gives additional income
to the farmers and also to maintain their nutritive requirement in terms of milk
consumption. Most of the farmers reared local cattle, buffaloes, Goat in plain belt area but
in hills the tribal farmers are maintaining the pedigree production of pigs.
1.3 Gap in Knowledge
From the above elaborate discussion, it is crystal clear that the Meghalaya specially in
plain belt area of west garo hills having abundant resources which can lead to the global
market but due to bottleneck and lack of technical knowledge, industrialization, transport
and communication the agricultural product do not compete in the global market in terms
of quality.
1.4 Conclusion
Agriculture is the prime source of income in rural area and we needs every single minutes of
our life an agriculturist to feed us, to feed world. So it should be our main objective to
improve the production, productivity, increase technical knowledge, skills, attitude of
youngsters towards the agriculture sector which is only possible with the help of effective
and fruitful education.
Reference
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer welfare, GOI
State Agriculture Department Meghalaya
KVK West Garo Hills, Meghalaya
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