Agriculture of Assam: Tea, Rice, Jute and Silk
Agriculture is the heart of Assam's economy and the occupation of most of its people. The state's warm, humid climate, heavy monsoon rainfall and fertile alluvial soil allow it to grow a remarkable range of crops, but four things stand out above all: rice, which is the staple food; tea, which is the state's signature cash crop and a world-famous export; jute, the fibre crop of the Barak valley; and silk, especially the golden muga that grows nowhere else on earth. Together these four make a complete picture of Assam's farm economy and give examiners an endless supply of dates, names and places to test.
Rice: the staple and its three seasons
Rice, or paddy, is the main crop and the staple food of Assam, and the majority of the cultivated area is under it. Farmers grow paddy in three seasons. Ahu is the early autumn paddy, sown in March-April and harvested in June-July. Sali is the main winter paddy, sown in June-July and harvested in November-December; it is the single most important rice crop of the state. Boro is the summer paddy, grown in low-lying fields with the help of irrigation from January to May. Being able to name the three seasons and their sowing and harvest months is often enough to answer a direct question in the paper.
Tea: the signature crop
Tea is the cash crop of Assam and its most important industry. Assam produces about 50 to 52 per cent of India's tea, and the state's tea is exported all over the world. The crop is grown in two belts, the Brahmaputra valley and the Barak valley, and the leading tea-producing district is Dibrugarh. Tea was discovered in Assam in 1823 by Robert Bruce, and the local plant, the Assam variety (Camellia assamica), is the basis of the industry. The two centres that every candidate should know are the Tocklai Tea Research Institute at Jorhat, the oldest tea research institute in the world, and the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre, the largest tea auction centre of the state.
Jute and other crops
Jute is a fibre crop that grows mainly in the Barak valley, in the districts of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi, and in some parts of the Brahmaputra valley. Besides tea, rice and jute, the state grows pulses, oilseeds, sugarcane, fruits and spices. In the hill districts, especially Karbi Anglong, rubber and spices such as ginger have become important cash crops, and horticulture is being promoted as a source of income alongside the traditional crops of the plains.
Silk: muga, eri and pat
Assam is the home of three main silks: muga, eri (also called endi) and pat. The most special is muga silk, the golden silk that is found nowhere else in the world and is produced by the silkworm Antheraea assamensis. Eri silk is produced from the silkworm that feeds on the castor plant. Pat silk is the white mulberry silk used for fine garments. The major muga-producing districts are Sivasagar, Lakhimpur, Darrang and Kamrup. Handloom weaving is closely linked to this crop, and the gamosa, the traditional Assamese cotton cloth, is the best-known example of the state's weaving tradition.
Irrigation and the farming calendar
Assam's agriculture depends mainly on the monsoon rainfall and on the floodwater of its rivers. Rainfall is heavy during the summer monsoon but unevenly distributed, and the dry winter months create a need for irrigation. For this reason the state combines rain-fed and irrigated farming: boro paddy, for instance, is grown in the dry months with pumped or canal irrigation, while sali paddy relies largely on the monsoon. Because the harvest calendar is tied to the rains, knowing the sowing and harvesting months of each crop is also a way of understanding the state's farming year.
How to prepare this topic
- Start with rice: staple crop, three seasons, and the months of ahu, sali and boro.
- Fix the tea facts: discovered in 1823 by Robert Bruce, Camellia assamica variety, and about 50 to 52 per cent of India's production.
- Remember the two tea centres: Tocklai at Jorhat for research and Guwahati for auctions.
- Link jute with the Barak valley and the three districts Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi.
- Learn the silks as a set: muga the golden silk, eri from castor, pat the mulberry silk, and muga's districts Sivasagar, Lakhimpur, Darrang and Kamrup.
Common exam traps
- Sali is the main rice crop of Assam, not ahu or boro; ahu is the early crop and boro the summer crop.
- Tea was discovered in 1823, but the first tea garden and commercial planting came later - do not merge the dates.
- Muga silk is exclusive to Assam, but eri and pat are also produced here; do not call eri the golden silk.
- Jute belongs mainly to the Barak valley, while tea is grown in both the Brahmaputra and the Barak valleys.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main crop and staple food of Assam, and what are the three rice seasons?
Rice, or paddy, is the main crop and staple food of Assam. It is grown in three seasons: ahu, the early autumn paddy sown in March-April and harvested in June-July; sali, the main winter paddy sown in June-July and harvested in November-December; and boro, the summer paddy grown in low-lying fields with irrigation from January to May. Sali is the single most important of the three.
How important is tea to Assam and where is it grown?
Tea is the cash crop and the most important industry of Assam, and the state produces about 50 to 52 per cent of India's tea. It is grown in two belts, the Brahmaputra valley and the Barak valley, and the leading tea-producing district is Dibrugarh. Tea was discovered in Assam in 1823 by Robert Bruce, and the local Camellia assamica variety is the basis of the industry.
Which silk of Assam is found nowhere else in the world?
Muga silk, the golden silk, is exclusive to Assam and is produced by the silkworm Antheraea assamensis. The other two silks of the state are eri, produced from the castor-fed silkworm, and pat, the white mulberry silk. The major muga-producing districts are Sivasagar, Lakhimpur, Darrang and Kamrup. Handloom weaving, including the gamosa, is closely linked to the silk tradition.
In which region of Assam is jute mainly grown?
Jute, a fibre crop, is grown mainly in the Barak valley, in the districts of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi, and in some parts of the Brahmaputra valley. It is one of the main cash crops of the south of the state. In the hill districts, rubber and spices such as ginger have become important commercial crops alongside the traditional crops of the plains.
What are the two research and marketing centres of the Assam tea industry?
The two centres are the Tocklai Tea Research Institute at Jorhat, which is the oldest tea research institute in the world, and the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre, the largest tea auction centre of the state. Jorhat is often called the tea capital of Assam because of Tocklai, while Guwahati is where most of the state's tea is bought and sold at auction.