Status and Growth Trends in Area, Production and Productivity of Horticulture Crops in Assam

Diversification of agriculture is considered as an important strategy for agricultural development in India and importance of horticulture crops as a means of diversification and creation of employment opportunities in rural areas is recognized. Besides, it also leads to agro-industries’ development and value addition. In India, horticulture accounts for 8.5% of the gross cropped area and occupies second position in fruits production and first position in vegetables production. Although, the state of Assam has the potential for development of horticulture with its wide range of topographical and agro-climatic variations, the state is yet to harness the potentiality. In a flood prone state like Assam where productivity of major crops like rice is not stable, increase in production of horticultural crops can minimize the impact of crop failure and provide monetary security to the farmers. This paper analyzes the status, growth trend—in area, production and productivity—of major horticultural crops of Assam vis-a-vis India. It also examines whether the area or productivity is the more influential factor of production of horticultural crops in the state. The paper highlights the better prospects of some horticultural crops in Assam, as their position is advantageous in comparison to India. There is also a need to increase the production and productivity by using scientific method of cultivation to have a sustainable growth in the long run.