HORTICULTURE FOR IMPROVING THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF THE FARMERS OF GOALPARA DISTRICT, ASSAM AND RELATED CHALLENGESSamar Medhi and Prasanta BhattacharyaAbstract The large financial potential of horticulture makes it a recognized essential component of rural development. Horticulture-based agricultural diversification can increase the value of this sector and provide rural residents with stable employment. A dependable source of human nutrition is also horticulture. In Assam 85.90% population belong to rural areas and more than 70% people depend on agriculture for their livelihood (2011 census). Goalpara is one of the districts of Assam that the NITI Ayog has designated as a model district for integrated development, including the horticultural industry. The area is home to a number of different horticulture crops. Farmers in these countries mostly produce vegetables like cabbage, tomato, pumpkin, and potato as well as fruits like banana, pine apple, etc. The Goalpara district has also one of the Asiaâs largest banana markets (Daranggiri) with leading production of banana in the state of Assam. The present study aims to studying how the horticulture practices grow the farmerâs livelihood and economy of the rural parts. The paper further analyzes the problem faced by the horticulture farmers in developing the farming activities. |