The presentation describes various issues and challenges faced in commercial adoption of one of the potential area of agriculture i.e. Horticulture in one of the biodiversity rich area of North Eastern Region of India. It also briefly describes the major potential horticultural crops that can be cultivated and some of the strategies to overcome this challenges

1. Dr. L. Jeebit Singh
Horticulture Development Officer
Department of Horticulture & Soil Conservation,
Manipur

2. Introduction
• North East India: 8 states
• Located in strategic position
– Bounded by 4 countries (China,
Bangladesh, Bhutan & Myanmar)
• Area
– 5.6 % of India’s geographical area
– 65% (undulating tracks & hills) +
35% (plain)
• Altitude & Rainfall
– 100 m to 8400 m from MSL
– 150-250 cm

3. Agriculture in NE India
• Agrarian states
– Rain-fed hill ecosystem
– Jhum cultivation is widely prevalent
– One-third of the total work force
• Agriculture characteristics
– 26% of the total GDP of NER
– Low cropping intensity, subsistence
farming & mono-cropping
– Low productivity
• Main crops
– Paddy and maize
– Horticultural crops

4. Percent Area under Horticulture
Production
Sl.
No.
State % area under
horticulture
1. Arunachal Pradesh 36.26
2. Assam 15.49
3. Manipur 37.05
4. Meghalaya 30.44
5. Mizoram 16.99
6. Nagaland 4.66
7. Sikkim 50.92
8. Tripura 27.52
Total 18.66

5. Major Horticultural Crops of NE Region
State Fruits Vegetables Spices Others
Arunanchal
Pradesh
Apple, orange,
kiwi
Potato, tomato,
cabbage
Ginger,
Turmeric, Large
Cardamom
Medicinal
Plants and
Herbs,
Flowers/Orchid
Assam Banana, Orange,
Pineapple,
Arecanut,
Coconut, Assam
Lemon
Potato,
Cauliflower,
Cabbage and
Other Summer
Vegetables
Ginger,
Turmeric
Medicinal
Plants and
Herbs, Flowers
Manipur Pineapple,
Papaya, Banana,
Lemon, Orange,
Passion Fruit
Potato,
Cauliflower,
Pea, Tomato
Chili, Turmeric Medicinal
Plants and
Herbs, Flowers
Meghalaya Pineapple,
Banana, Orange,
Passion Fruit,
Strawberry
Cabbage,
Chow-chow
Ginger, Chili Medicinal
Plants and
Herbs, Flowers

6. Major Horticultural Crops of NE Region
State Fruits Vegetables Spices Others
Mizoram Orange, Banana,
Papaya, Grapes,
Passion Fruit
Potato, Squash,
Cabbage,
Broccolli
Ginger, Chili Flowers/
Orchid,
Medicinal
Plants & Herbs
Nagaland Pineapple, Banana,
Orange, Passion
Fruit
Tapioca,
Cucumber
Chili, Ginger,
Large
Cardamom
Medicinal
Plants & Herbs
Sikkim Orange, Passion
Fruit, Kiwi fruit
Cabbage,
Cauliflower,
Broccoli,
Potato, Off-
season
vegetables
Large
Cardamom,
Ginger
Medicinal
Plants & Herbs,
Flowers/
orchids
Tripura Pineapple, Banana,
Litchi, Jackfruit,
Mangoes
Potato, Off-
season
vegetables
Ginger Medicinal
Plants & Herbs,
Flowers

7. Advantages of Horticulture in NE India
• Agro climatic diversity
ranging from tropical to
alpine making it possible
to grow a wide variety of
crops
• Rich biodiversity
• Rich surface water
resources through
perennial rivers and its
tributaries

8. Advantages of Horticulture in NE India
• Proximity to export
destinations such as
Bangladesh and Myanmar
• Soil is rich in organic matter
and low chemical usage
– Organic hub
• Potential to commercialise
products such as kiwi and
passion fruit

9. EXPECTATION Vs REALITY
Despite the potential and advantages

10. Issues and challenges
• Primitive/traditional farming
system
– Low productivity
– General negligence
– Lack of knowledge of
improved package of
practises
– Low technological adoption/
non-adoption of scientific
cultivation practices
– Poor investment capacity

11. Issues and challenges
• Small and fragmented
land holding
– Subsistence farming
– Commercial horticulture
cultivation
• Lack of quality planting
materials
– Low productivity
– Susceptibility to pest and
diseases

12. Issues and challenges
• Land tenure and ownership
system
– Land owned collectively by
the villagers /tribal chiefs
– Horticultural crops have long
gestation period
– Preliminary cost of
establishment of orchard or
plantation is high
– Banks reluctant to give loan
– Lack of proper documentation

13. • Inadequate agro-inputs
– Insufficiency of agro-inputs
from the government
– Investments for fertilisers,
seeds and pesticides, which
poor farmers are not able to
afford
• Lack of irrigation facilities
– Adequate rainfall but lacks
harvesting
– Due to high altitudes, water
runoff is rapid
Issues and challenges

14. Issues and challenges
• Lack of modernization and
mechanization
– Disguised unemployment
– Low productivity
– High postharvest losses
• Poor Logistics and connectivity
– Hilly terrain
– Poor roads and railways
– Produce on head loads for 1-5 km.
to reach the primary or rural
markets or motor transport

15. Issues and challenges
• Increased population
pressure on land and
decrease in productivity
– Jhum cycle shortened to 2-
3 years
– Large -scale deforestation
– Heavy soil erosion
– Poor quality soil
– Depletion of resource base
Soil erosion
Rampant Jhum

16. Issues and challenges
• Poor Marketing and Post-harvest
Infrastructure
– Farmers get low return compared
to the other parts of India
– Due to poor markets and the
perishable nature of the products
• Farmers sell at throwaway prices to
the middlemen
– Middlemen get maximum profit
– Rural markets are much preferred
by the farmers (lower price)
• Proximity to production cluster,
• Less transportation cost
• Absence of trader’s cartel.

17. Issues and challenges
• Lack of Processing Industries
– Farmers get around 50 % of the
consumers’ price (only for the
high quality produce)
– 20-30 percent produce wasted
at farm level
– Few fold storage facilities
available
– Few processing units exist
– Value addition required for
crops : pineapple, citrus, chilli,
ginger and turmeric

18. Other issues and challenges
Insurgency and militancy
Blockage and bandh
Ever growing population
Unemployment

19. Strategies to overcome the challenges
• More R & D specific to NE India agricultural
problems
• Better extension programme
• Quality planting materials
• Development of agri-related infrastructures
• Banking relaxation to avail loan
• Export oriented support
• Organic farming
• Commercial farming with industrial linkages
• More………