Meghalaya

The abode of clouds

State Facts

Area: 22,429 Sq. Km

Population (2011): 29,64,001

Literacy: 75.48 %

Capital: Shillong

Established: 21 January 1972

Major crops and resources for economic upliftment

Meghalaya, one of the most beautiful State in the country. Nature has blessed her with abundant rainfall, sun-shine, virgin forests, high plateaus, tumbling waterfalls, crystal clear rivers, meandering streamlets and above all with sturdy, intelligent and hospitable people. Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya is located at an altitude of 1496 metres above sea level. Agriculture is the main occupation of the people of Meghalaya. Of the total agricultural land in Meghalaya, 62% is used for food grains, 25% for cash crops, 9% for horticultural crops and the rest 4% is used for raising miscellaneous crops. The state offers scope for cultivation of a wide variety of agricultural crops because of highly diversified topography, altitude and climatic conditions. Rice is the most important food crop and occupies about 44% of the total agricultural land. Maize is the next important agricultural food crop of Meghalaya. It is grown in about 8% of the cropped area and cultivated mainly in the plains of Garo hills, Mairang, Mawphlang and Laskeiñ block of Jaiñtia hills. Cotton, Jute, Mesta are the important fibre crops grown in the State. These crops have been the traditional cash crops of Garo Hills. Besides the major food crops of rice and maize, the state is renowned for its horticultural crops like Orange, Pineapple, Lemon, Guava, Litchi, Jackfruit and Bananas; and fruits such as Plum, Pear and Peach.