www.tjprc.org editor@tjprc.org HORTICULTURE SCENARIO IN NE REGION OF INDIA LAKSHMAN CHANDRA DE ICAR –NRC for Orchids, Pakyong, Sikkim, India ABSTRACT There Is Immense Potential For Vertical And Horizontal Growth In Horticulture Sector In The Region. At Present Horticultural Crops Account for Only 18.60% of Cultivated Area. This Share Is Highest In Sikkim Followed By Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, Assam And Nagaland. There Is Need To Expand Area Under Horticultural Crops Particularly In Assam, Mizoram And Nagaland Where At Present It Is Less Than 20% of The Cultivated Area. In Terms Of Its Contribution To The National Production, The Region Accounts For About 5.1% Fruits And 4.5% For Vegetables. Organized Cultivation Of Crops Like Kiwi, Passion Fruit, Off Season Vegetables, Anthurium, Cut Flowers (Rose), Patchouli, Geranium Etc. Has Stared In Recent Years. KEYWORDS: Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Tripura, Anthurium Received: Jan 23, 2017; Accepted: Mar 02, 2017; Published: Mar 08, 2017; Paper Id.: IJASRAPR201734 INTRODUCTION The economy of the North Eastern states is mainly rural and agrarian. The region offers scope for cultivation of a wide variety of agricultural crops because of its diversities in topography, altitude and climatic conditions. The extent of cultivable land in the NE region varies from state to state. Land is a critical resource in many of the NE states, and availability and management of land for agricultural activities are essential for raising the region’s overall agricultural production and productivity. The region’s agricultural system is predominantly traditional. The overall geographical land to man ratio for the NE region (0.67 hectare/person) is much higher than the national average (0.32 hectare/person). Population to land ratio is highest highest in Arunachal Pradesh followed by Mizoram, Sikkim and Manipur. The per cent utilization of cultivable area in the NE regions (62.04%) less than the national average (73.05%). About 80% of the farmers in the NE region belong to small (less than 1.44ha) and marginal (less than 0.40 ha) category. Moreover, with increase in population, the average size of land holding is gradually reducing over the years. This is primarily because hilly terrain constitutes nearly two third of the regions geographical area, and large sized holding are not feasible. The average size of land holding for the NE States (1.60 ha) is marginally higher than the all India (1.57 ha). Among the NE States the average size of land holding is highest in Nagaland (6.92 ha) and lowest in Tripura (0.97ha). The average plot size is very small for mechanization of agriculture and adoption of modern farming practices. Hence, high value crops such as different types of flowers will provide high remuneration from limited resources. There is immense potential for vertical and horizontal growth in horticulture sector in the region. At present horticultural crops account for only 18.60% of cultivated area. This share is highest in Sikkim followed by Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, Assam and Nagaland. There is need to expand area under horticultural crops particularly in Assam, Mizoram and Nagaland where at present it is less than 20% of the Original Article International Journal of Agricultural Science and Research (IJASR) ISSN(P): 2250-0057; ISSN(E): 2321-0087 Vol. 7, Issue 2, Apr 2017, 243-254 © TJPRC Pvt. Ltd.