Allied Activities of Assam: Fisheries, Forestry and Livestock
Along with crop farming and tea, the allied primary activities of fisheries, forestry and animal husbandry form a vital part of Assam's rural economy. The state is rich in wetlands and rivers, thickly forested hills and a long tradition of rearing cattle, ducks, pigs and goats. These activities provide food, income, raw material and ecological services, and they are a regular source of questions in ADRE, APSC, Assam Police and similar examinations. This chapter explains the wetland and fisheries wealth of Assam, its forests and wildlife, and its livestock and animal husbandry sector, together with the state symbols and schemes that are most frequently asked.
Fisheries and the wetlands of Assam
Assam is famous for its beels, the large natural water bodies or oxbow lakes formed by old river courses and used extensively for fish cultivation. The Deepor Beel near Guwahati is the largest beel and an internationally important Ramsar site, known for hosting migratory birds. Other important wetlands include Urpad Beel in Bongaigaon, which has also been declared a Ramsar site, along with Sone Beel and Chandubi Lake. In these waters, the Indian major carps - Rohu (Labeo rohita), Catla and Mrigal - are the most important cultured species. The Hilsa fish, called Sillong in Assamese, is highly prized in Assamese cuisine and comes from the sea through the Brahmaputra. The Ganges river dolphin (Platanista gangetica), found in the Brahmaputra, is an endangered aquatic species and is the state aquatic animal. The state fish, however, is the Pabho (Ompok pabda). The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) funds fisheries development, and the Assam State Aquaculture Mission promotes scientific fish farming, seed production and farmer training. Rice-fish farming, in which fish are cultured in flooded paddy fields, is a traditional practice that boosts farm income.
Forestry and biodiversity
About 35 to 36 per cent of Assam's total geographical area is recorded as forest area, a significant part of it reserved forest. The main natural forest types are tropical moist deciduous forests and tropical wet evergreen or semi-evergreen forests. Sal (Shorea robusta), Teak and Hollong are important timber species, and the Hollong (Dipterocarpus retusus) is the tallest tree and the state tree of Assam. The forestry sector contributes roughly 3 to 4 per cent of the state's GSDP, mainly through timber, bamboo, fuelwood and minor forest produce. Among the minor forest produce, Agarwood from the Agar tree and various medicinal herbs are highly valued. Assam's forest wealth is also the base of its wildlife tourism. Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the main home of the one-horned rhinoceros; Manas National Park, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Project Tiger reserve, is famous for the golden langur and was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1973. Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is famous for its high density of rhinos, while Nameri was historically a royal hunting reserve.
Livestock and animal husbandry
Animal husbandry is an important allied activity in Assam. Nagaon district has one of the highest livestock populations in the state. The indigenous cattle breed is the Assam Hill cattle, also known locally as the Nagaon or Dhubri type, and the local goat is often improved by crossing with Beetal and Black Bengal. Assam has one of the largest duck populations in India, reflecting the importance of duck rearing in its wetland economy, while pig rearing is a traditional occupation in the tribal hill districts of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao. Dairy development is supported by the National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD) and the Dairy Processing and Infrastructure Development Fund (DIDF). The Assam Cooperative Milk Producers' Federation Limited, known as WAMUL, markets milk and milk products under the Purabi brand and has its headquarters at Pandu in Guwahati. The Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary (AH&V) provides veterinary services to the state.
State symbols and key institutions
Assam's state symbols are frequently asked. The one-horned rhinoceros is the state animal, the White-winged Wood Duck, locally called Deo Hah, is the state bird, the Hollong is the state tree, and the Ganges river dolphin is the state aquatic animal. The Pabho is the state fish. The Assam State Aquaculture Mission and the fisheries and animal husbandry departments work to raise production, while the Forest Department manages sanctuaries, national parks and reserved forests. Together, these allied activities support millions of rural households and connect the state's economy directly to its unique natural environment.
Key facts at a glance
- Beels: oxbow lake wetlands; largest: Deepor Beel (Ramsar site) near Guwahati.
- Other wetlands: Urpad Beel (also Ramsar), Sone Beel, Chandubi Lake.
- Main cultured fish: Indian major carps - Rohu, Catla, Mrigal.
- Hilsa = Sillong; state fish = Pabho (Ompok pabda).
- Fisheries scheme: PMMSY; Assam State Aquaculture Mission.
- Forest cover: about 35-36 per cent of geographical area.
- State tree: Hollong; state animal: one-horned rhino; state bird: White-winged Wood Duck (Deo Hah).
- Kaziranga and Manas: UNESCO World Heritage Sites; Manas first Tiger Reserve (1973).
- Highest livestock population district: Nagaon; indigenous cattle: Assam Hill breed.
- Milk brand: Purabi (WAMUL); dairy schemes: NPDD and DIDF.
Quick revision points
- Deepor Beel is the largest beel and a Ramsar site; Urpad has also been added to the Ramsar list.
- Rohu, Catla and Mrigal are the Indian major carps; Hilsa is Sillong.
- Forestry contributes about 3-4 per cent of GSDP.
- Manas was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1973; Kaziranga is famous for the one-horned rhino.
- WAMUL markets milk under the Purabi brand.
How to prepare this topic
- Learn the wetlands and their local names, marking which are Ramsar sites.
- Separate the state symbols: animal, bird, tree, fish and aquatic animal.
- Link each national park with its signature species - rhino for Kaziranga, golden langur for Manas.
- Remember the major schemes by their full forms: PMMSY, NPDD, DIDF.
- Revise the livestock specialities of Assam: ducks, pig-rearing districts, WAMUL/Purabi.
Common exam traps
- The Ganges river dolphin is the state aquatic animal, while the Pabho is the state fish.
- Hilsa is a fish, not a mammal; the dolphin is a mammal found in the Brahmaputra.
- Deepor Beel is near Guwahati; it is the largest beel and a Ramsar site.
- Manas, not Kaziranga, was the first Tiger Reserve in Assam (1973).
- WAMUL is the cooperative federation; Purabi is the brand, not the organisation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are beels and which is the largest beel of Assam?
Beels are large natural wetlands or oxbow lakes formed by old river courses, widely used for fish cultivation in Assam. The largest beel is Deepor Beel near Guwahati, which is a Ramsar site and is famous for migratory birds. Urpad Beel, Sone Beel and Chandubi Lake are other important wetlands.
Which are the state symbols of Assam?
The one-horned rhinoceros is the state animal, the White-winged Wood Duck or Deo Hah is the state bird, the Hollong is the state tree, the Ganges river dolphin is the state aquatic animal, and the Pabho (Ompok pabda) is the state fish.
How much forest area does Assam have and what does forestry contribute?
About 35 to 36 per cent of Assam's geographical area is recorded as forest area. The forestry sector contributes roughly 3 to 4 per cent of the state's GSDP, mainly through timber, bamboo, fuelwood and minor forest produce such as Agarwood and medicinal herbs.
Which national parks of Assam are World Heritage Sites?
Kaziranga National Park, famous for the one-horned rhinoceros, and Manas National Park, famous for the golden langur and a Project Tiger reserve, are the two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Assam. Manas was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1973.
Which organisation markets milk products in Assam and under what brand?
The Assam Cooperative Milk Producers' Federation Limited, known as WAMUL, markets milk and milk products under the Purabi brand. Its headquarters is at Pandu in Guwahati, and dairy development is supported by NPDD and DIDF.