Unfolding Assam’s Rice Economy: Has Summer Rice Become a Major Contributor?

Abstract

Being the backbone of Assam economy, agriculture plays the dominant role where more than 70% people of the total population engaged in this sector. Varieties of rice crop are cultivated in different season of the year in the state. Majorly it has been divided into three types, namely Winter or Sali rice, Summer or Boro rice and Autumn or Ahu rice. The people in Assam widely produced Winter rice, while a very limited area confined with Summer rice cultivation. However, the Summer rice can yield double that of Winter rice if sufficient water has been provided. According to the Statistical Handbook of Assam, 2024; Winter Rice occupies nearly 81% of the total rice cultivated area in Assam, while Summer Rice accounts for only 16.46%. However, Winter Rice contributes around 77% to the state’s total rice production, whereas Summer Rice contributes about 22%. This suggests that despite its relatively smaller cultivated area, Summer Rice exhibits higher productivity in comparison to Winter Rice. Therefore, by taking into consideration of 2014-24, the present study seeks to examine the contribution of Summer Rice to total rice production in Assam. The study also tries to analyze a comparative analysis of the contribution of Summer and Winter rice to Assam’s total rice production. Based on secondary data, the study found the contribution of Summer rice to the total rice production in Assam remained almost stable over the time with slight fluctuation. Moreover, there is strong and negative correlation between Summer and Winter rice production in the state over the year. The study emphasizes the importance of encouraging Summer rice production through better irrigation facility, scientific cultivation method, multiple cropping pattern, and effective land use management.