Growth and factors influencing agricultural sector in the Northeastern states of India

Farmers of North-East India are mostly small and marginal and they cultivate primarily for home consumption. The region is organic by default, which is advantageous for growth of agriculture. The study estimates growth and variability in different resources used and output produced and also the contribution of different factors to total agricultural GDP. Net sown area shows the highest growth and variability in Manipur and labour and fertilizer in Assam. Further, high pesticide use is observed in Tripura, and irrigation level in Meghalaya. Food grain production recorded a higher growth in Arunachal Pradesh. The results also shows that agricultural GDP is influenced more by irrigation in all the states except Meghalaya. Fertilizer could not influence agricultural GDP except in Assam, Tripura and Nagaland. The region has the potential to be organic.