Agriculture development in Assam & NE states (by Bhaskar Das) – APSC Mains Essay

Posted on by admin

Agriculture development in Assam & NE states – APSC Mains Essay

(Essay submitted in APSC Mains Essay Writing Contest 2019 – Essay Topics for week 2)

 

Agriculture development in Assam & NE states

By Bhaskar Das

 

Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy of the people of Assam and NE states. About 63 percent of the Assam’s working force are engaged in agriculture and allied activities. Rice is the main food crop in NE agriculture as it is the main diet. Other food crops cultivated in the region include jute, wheat, maize, mustard, soyabean, sugarcane, banana, tobacco etc. Although agriculture is the prime importance of the region, it has remained largely undeveloped despite rich natural resources, biodiversity and high rainfall.

Major Problem of Agricultural development in Assam & NE region

  1. Natural calamities: Floods and dry spells are the principal natural disasters faced by farmers in Assam every year. The principal source of floods is the Brahmaputra river and its tributaries.
  2. Commercial capital i.e. loans from banks or other credit agencies, is not generally accessible to farmers in Assam & NE states. As a result borrowing from unscrupulous lenders at high interest rate make sometimes borrowers lose their livelihood, their cultivate land.
  3. Marketing problem: Geographical isolation, weak transport and communication systems, poor marketing facilities, lack of information on price and place to sell are some of the principal market related problems.
  4. Low level of irrigation facilities, land slide, soil erosion etc
  5. Non-economic factor: Lack of education and skilled labour, ignorance about change of economic condition & new technology, out-dated thinking, disturbed law & order situation ,etc

Measures to be taken for Agriculture development in NE states .

  1. High value crops such as pachauli, passion fruit, aromatic and medicinal plants have good potential in both domestic and international markets. These should be widely practiced.
  2. Combination of food crops with livestock, fishery, piggery, forestry, sericulture, horticulture are some of the necessary measures.
  3. The low chemical-inputs use in the NE region should be converted to an opportunity by promoting the ‘organic products’ for which demand is fast rising in the national and international markets.
  4. Appropriate strategy to strengthen the public-private partnership (PPP) to attract foreign direct investment. Special economic zones (SEZs) may be established in the region to capture the economic advantage.
  5. Strategy should be evolved to promote community–based collaterals for the effective credit delivery.
  6. Rain water harvesting, entrepreneurship development, investment in Research and Development, Roads and Connectivity, infrastructure are some of the measures may be taken for agriculture development.

The NE region has vast potential to catch up with rest of the country due to its fertile soil and natural resources. Government has taken some initiatives to flourish this region like ‘Act East Policy’, ’creation of separate DoNER Ministry’ etc. But Policy implementation is the key for the Agricultural development in Assam and the entire NE region.

[ 440 Words ]

 

Liked it? Give your feedback in the comment section below..

Want to see your Essay published here? Participate in APSC Mains Essay Writing Contest 2019 (Weekly) – Home Page

APSC mains 2018 test series GS & Optional Paper