Performance of Agricultural Economy of Assam and Constraints of Economic Development

摘要

Assam, like most of the states in India is predominantly an agricultural economy especially with respect of workforce. Over 70 per cent of the state's population relies on agriculture as fanners, as agricultural labourers, or both for their livelihood. A majority of state's population i.e. almost 86 per cent of the total population live in rural areas where the mainstay of business is production agriculture. In terms of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), the agriculture sector contributed over19.22 percent of the state income in 2010-11(Q). The growth performance of agriculture sector shows positive trend in the last five years period i.e. from (-) 0.27 % in 2006-07 to 3.15 % in 2010-11. (fig. 1)In Assam, farmers grow crops mainly in two seasons i.e. Kharif and Rabi season. The major kharif crops grown in the state are autumn rice, winter rice, maize, pulses, kharif oilseeds like seasamum, castor, soyabean, groundnut, kharif vegetables etc. There are some non food crops like jute, mesta, tea, cotton etc. also grown by the farmers in kharif season. On the other hand major rabi crops cultivated are summer rice, cereals, wheat, grams, rape & mustard, various rabi oilseeds, rabi vegetables, potatoetc.