East Garo Hills District produces substantial quantities of fruits like oranges, pineapples, bananas and jackfruit and spices like chillies, ginger, turmericand bay leaves. In recent years there has been an increase in the coverage of plantation crops like rubber, coffee, tea and cashew nuts. The increased demand for jute, mustard, ginger, cotton, rubber and other cash crops has also encouraged farmers to increase the area of cultivation for these crops. Improved road communication and marketing facilities as well as improved methods of cultivation and crop protection have also contributed to the increase in the production of food and cash crops. Irrigation has so far played only a minimal role in agriculture in the Garo Hills. The latest horticultural introduction in the district is vanilla vines. There is also scope for floriculture or flower farming to flourish, due to favourable climate enabling low cost cultivation. East Garo Hills District is ideal for growing orchids and tropical blooms like anthurium and bird of paradise (Strelitzia Reginae). Although the economy of East Garo Hills District is largely agrarian, agriculture and agro-based industries has not been fully exploited in the district. There is tremendous potential for investment and development in food processing and ample scope for setting up a viable large scale fruit processing units in the district. Besides agriculture, a small part of the economy of East Garo Hills District is occupied in small-scale industries such as sericulture and weaving, animal husbandry and dairy farming, carpentry and bamboo-working, brick-making, etc. Mining is another important industry. The district has fairly large reserves of coal, limestone and clay. |