Rice Farming in Assam (India): Ecology, Tradition, and Transformation

The agricultural economy of Assam, a State in India's northeast, is overwhelmingly dominated by a single crop of rice. This crop with numerous varieties had till recently characterized the State's agricultural landscapes, especially during the kharif season. Importantly, the culture of Assam was so deeply rooted in rice farming and its allied activities that it was popularly known as a land of rice culture. Rice is a common source of subsistence, nourishment, and sustainability for the people of Assam. The ecological conditions of the State, traditions, and aspirations of the people get largely reflected in the cultivation of rice and its traditional management. Like some other parts of the country, in Assam also, rice farming has undergone a notable change in its practice, production, and position in the State's economy. The growing adoption of high-yielding rice varieties and associated modern inputs and implements by the farming community has transformed the State’s ecology and economy to the extent that it demands a thorough investigation of its various facets and issues including the competition it has to face with the newly introduced crops. The present study attempts to examine the relationship between ecology and the tradition of rice farming, its transformation during the recent period, and its sustainability in the years to come. The study is based on intensive fieldwork in different environmental settings of the State and data collected from various government and non-government sources. The perceptions of the communities sharing different ecosystems within the State on the changing nature of rice farming and its implications have also been addressed in the study.