ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Manipur Centre, Lamphelpat—795 004
The problems and prospects of diversification of farm in north-eastern states of India have been analysed by keeping in view some of the infrastructural, institutional and policy constraints. Studies on land use and cropping pattern have clearly shown that the area put to agricultural use is significantly low in the NE states, compared to the all-India level of 46.73 per cent. There has been a moderate increase in the net sown area in most of the NE states during the past three decades, although the all-India level has remained more or less stagnant. This shows that land has either been made suitable for cultivation through land development activities or considered suitable (exploitation motive) for cultivation in these states. It could be further seen that the cropping pattern in NE states has remained highly specialized in foodgrains. In Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura, pulses and oilseeds have gained area mainly through a shift away from rice. Moderate increase in the area under fruits and vegetables has been noticed from the data. However, activities like fishery and animal husbandry are under low level of development. A low-to-moderate increase has been noticed in the cropping intensity in most of the NE states. These findings have indicated that despite having scope for diversification in these states, it is still at a low level, which necessitates identification factors that constrain crop diversification. Lack of marketing facilities combined with transport and communication infrastructures and the existing land institutions are the important factors that restrain crop diversification.
