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Nagaland is basically an agricultural economy. Over 70% of the population is
dependent on agriculture. The main crops are rice, millet, maize and
pulses. Cash crops like sugarcane and potato are also becoming popular.
Coffee, cardamom and tea are grown as plantation crops in Nagaland.
Rice
is the dominant crop and also the staple diet of the people. Of the
gross cropped area under food grains, rice accounts for about 84.4%. Oil
seeds is also an important crop. It includes Rapeseed, mustard etc.
Coffee cardamom and tea are grown as plantation crops in Nagaland.
Principal
crops are Arums, yams, millet, maize, potatoes and sugarcane. Vegetable
crops are melon, cucumbers, spinach leaf, mustard, onion, chillies,
carrots, tomatoes, brinjal etc.
The two methods of cultivation among the Naga tribes are jhuming and terrace cultivation.
The area under jhum cultivation is about 87.339 hectares and under
terraced cultivation is about 62,091 hectares. In jhuming, the
individual parcels out his field into a number of plots and cultivates a
particular plot for one or two years. In the following year, he shifts
to the next plot and that also is cultivated for the same period. In
this way, after the rotation is completed, the first plot is taken up
again. The jungle is felled and burnt and the crops are sown on the
ground fertilized by ashes. The complete rotation of plots may take
between six to ten years depending upon the acreage of the field. The
longer this duration is, the more fertile the soil becomes and better
the crops are. This method of cultivation is in vogue among the Semas,
Aos and Lothas. Jhuming has its obvious disadvantages. A large area of
land is required for cultivation. Besides, the crops is dependent on
rainfall.
A more modern method is that of
preparing terraced fields. The Angamis are experts in this art. The
complete hillside is cut, beautiful terraces whose width would depend up
on the gradient of the feature, are made. The fields are irrigated by a
net work of water channels. Normally the terraces are so graduated that
water flows down conveniently from one terrace to the other below it,
and so on. Bamboo pipes are used to regulate the flow of water. The
excavating of the terraces requires a colossal effort, and one marvels
at the amount of human energy expended in cutting them into shape, but
these terraced fields, once prepared, are much easier to maintain than
the jhum plots. They have also the advantage of being closer to the
village site. The State Government is trying to persuade the villagers
to change over from jhuming to terracing. The Government is in fact,
making all out efforts to improve the agriculture. It has under taken a
number of irrigation projects, supplied pumping set to farmers, started
community Development projects, set up seed farms and established an
agricultural research centre. As a result of these measures, there has
already been a sustained increase in the tonnage of rice produced.
Refer:- http://www.webindia123.com/nagaland/economy/agriculture.htm
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