Meghalaya Agriculture

Meghalaya agriculture is the main contributor to the economy of this north eastern state of India. Around 80% of the total population of Meghalaya depends upon agriculture for their living. Hence agriculture in Meghalaya is the main occupation of its people.

Agriculture in Meghalaya has been flourishing due to the type of climate that it has through out the year. Meghalaya do not receive evenly distributed rainfall. Hence the vegetation at every area differs. Some place have tropical vegetation while some have temperate vegetation.

There has been a huge development in the agriculture sector in Meghalaya. In the last 25 years, the total cropped area has increased by about 42% out of which 60% comprises of the food grains. The use of the high yielding seeds of various varieties have given successful results thereby enhancing the agriculture at Meghalaya.

The main food crops that are an essential part of agriculture around Meghalaya are rice and maize. Among the horticultural ones, pineapple, banana, lemon, Litchi, Jack fruits, plum, peach, Guava, Pear, etc, are the most important.

The cash crops that have added value to agriculture of Meghalaya are Tezpatta, Jute, Rapseed, Black Pepper, Potato, Mustard, Short Staple Cotton, Arecanut, Ginger, etc. Among the non-traditional crops, mushroom, cashewnut, wheat, tea, oilseeds, etc. contributes mainly to the agricultural revenues of the state.

To bring more improvement in the Meghalaya agriculture, the state government is planning to lay importance on cash crops, oilseeds and pulses. The government has set up an autonomous board to encourage cultivation of tea in the tea gardens and increasing new plantations of crops so that more and more area can be brought under agricultural activities.