Guwahati, Assam: Assam has achieved self-sufficiency in rice production, and the government’s next priority is to encourage farmers to adopt multiple cropping practices and improve irrigation facilities to increase agricultural income, Agriculture and Irrigation Minister Pijush Hazarika has said.
The minister stated that the state’s rice production is now adequate to meet domestic demand. However, he noted that rice cultivation offers limited profit margins, making it important to promote crop diversification among farmers.
Hazarika said that crops such as those in the horticulture and floriculture sectors provide significantly higher returns and can help improve farmers’ livelihoods. He also highlighted the profitability of rabi crops but pointed out that a lack of adequate water supply during the winter season remains a major obstacle for farmers.
Addressing the issue of irrigation, the minister acknowledged that only 24 per cent of Assam’s agricultural land currently has irrigation facilities. He said the government aims to expand irrigation coverage to 60–70 per cent of the state’s farmland, describing the task as one of the biggest challenges facing the Irrigation Department.
The minister also emphasized the need for additional cold storage facilities across Assam, noting that the lack of storage infrastructure often affects farmers. However, he stressed that proper feasibility studies should be conducted before establishing new cold storage units.
Highlighting export opportunities, Hazarika referred to the recent shipment of 500 kilograms of lychees from Tezpur to Singapore and said international demand for the fruit is much higher than current supply levels. To meet growing demand, the government plans to plant around 20,000 additional lychee trees in the region next year. At present, Tezpur is estimated to have around 3,000 lychee trees.
He further said that Assam lemon and ginger are also witnessing strong demand in external markets. The government, he added, will continue efforts to encourage farmers to increase production of export-oriented crops and strengthen the state’s agricultural economy through diversification and improved infrastructure.
