Problems and Prospects of Agricultural Development in the Tribal Areas of Golaghat and Sivasagar Districts of Assam

Abstract

The main objectives of the study was to find out the present pattern of agriculture in the tribal areas, to identify the socio economic factors that lead to low productivity of agriculture in the tribal areas, to examine the problems of traditional method of agriculture, and to find out the level of acceptance of new agricultural practices by the tribals and constraints face by them, etc. The entire research study is carried out in Golaghat and Sivasagar districts of Assam. Altogether 675 households were covered from 27 villages of both districts. The most important and vital problems faced by the tribals Misings of the surveyed villages of districts of Golaghat and Sivasagar is the annual flood and erosion. The flood waters compel some families to shift their hearth and homes to safer places. Unless some tangible flood control and erosion problem is solved the agriculture development of the people will always remain in the back stage. Mechanisation of agriculture is limited to the well to do families only. Beneficial measures like subsidised rate and low interest bank loans may be introduced. One of healthy phenomenon is noticed among the tribal people of the surveyed villages of both the districts, is the growing tendency of the cultivations towards application of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. There is no Govt. irrigation scheme. The well to do sections use privately owned pump sets and shallow tube wells. The branches of formal financial institutions are not easily accessible due to distance factor. If not possible to start Village branches, at least suitable officials should be posted in the villages to provide institutional loans. In Golaghat district due to above difficulties, the villagers take loans from local money lenders who charge exorbitant rate of interest mostly in land. There is much scope for establishing piggery and poultry farming as the villagers rear pigs and poultries in large numbers. Special awareness programmes should be chalked out for the tribal people living in the riverine areas.