Production of Banana and Pineapple in Assam: Status and Challenges

Diversity of agro-climatic condition, rainfall, soil variability and suitability bring a vast scope for growing various horticulture crops such as different fruits, vegetables, tuber crops, flowers and plantation crops etc. Two of the most potential fruit crops in the state are banana and pineapple. In this paper, on the basis of secondary information, an attempt has been made to examine the status and challenges of fruit production in Assam giving emphasis on banana and pineapple. Compound growth rates and instability index have been estimated to understand the growth and instability of production, area and productivity of fruits over time. The study reveals that although the percentage shares of banana and pineapple in total fruit production is the highest; their growth rates have been observed very low in the last decade. Rainfall deficiency during the crop season, limited coverage of irrigation, huge amount of post harvest loss, absence of adequate research and training have been identified as the major influencing factors upon fruit production in the state.