Impacts of commercial orange cultivation on socio-economic variables in lower Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh

Orange being one of the most important commercial fruit of Arunachal Pradesh has tremendous impacts on lives of its cultivators. It has generated employment opportunities, increased income and investment as well as improved living standard of orange cultivators of Lower Dibang Valley. The study revealed that most of orange cultivators of the study area have invested their income in maintenance of orange field which account for 36 percent of total income earned from oranges. Likewise, consumer durable goods, education, health & sanitation, capital goods account for 31 percent, 23 percent, 8 percent, and 2 percent of share in the order. Further, hired labor is found to be major chunk of workforce being used in orange field. It is revealed that each orange cultivator has used an average of eight hired persons in orange field in each year during the reference period. Circle wise analysis shows that highest numbers of persons in the orange field is employed in Dambuk Circle. Altogether, 16 persons are found to have worked in the field in each year which comprises of family members, relatives and hired labors.