Development of Horticulture and its Impact on the Economic Life of the Garos of Goalpara District of Assam

Abstract

Northeast India is known for its diverse nature of soil, climate, and topography. The region offers scope for cultivation of a wide variety of horticultural crops such as fruits, vegetables, flowers, tuber and rhizomatous crops and spices because of its diversities in topography, altitude and climatic conditions. Among the commercial fruits of the country, maximum diversity in citrus, banana and jack fruit are found in Northeast India. Similarly wide and diverse types of vegetables including indigenous ones are cultivated in the region. The present study is an attempt to unearth the horticultural practices undertaken by the Garos living in Goalpara district adjacent to West Garo Hill district of Meghalaya. Most of the village under study are situated in the foot hills. The Garos are traditionally jhumias shifting cultivators, but of late practice of horticulture in their erstwhile jhum field have become a noticeable economic approach among the Garos. The present study covers 700 hundred households under two development blocks like Rangjuli and Khausdhuwa with a population 31,654. Out of 700 households 45.65% practice plough cultivation, 52.31% practice horticulture and shifting cultivation is restricted among 1.78%. They produce as many as 11 varieties of horticultural crops commercially like green vegetables, edible roots or tubers, pumpkins, fruits like pine apples, oranges, jackfruit, mango, guava, litchi, good quality banana, spices like ginger, turmeric, chilli, black paper other rhizomes, lemons, betel nuts, muga cocoons. Among various horticultural crops pineapple tops the list and 321 families primarily involve with this cultivation. Pine apple cultivation covers 1200 bighas of land and people earn almost Rs.2,32,420.00 per annum. Similarly rubber plantation covers 3241 bighas and annual income being Rs. 23,32,432.00. They use traditional agricultural tool in their horticultural operation. The Garos earn a handsome amount of money from their horticultural practices.