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Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat

Assam Agricultural University is the first institution of its kind in the whole of North-Eastern Region of India. The main goal of this institution is to produce globally competitive human resources in farm sectorand to carry out research in both conventional and frontier areas for production optimization as well as to disseminate the generated technologies as public good for benefitting the food growers/produces and traders involved in the sector while emphasizing on sustainability, equity and overall food security at household level. Genesis of AAU - The embryo of the agricultural research in the state of Assam was formed as early as 1897 with the establishment of the Upper Shillong Experimental Farm (now in Meghalaya) just after about a decade of creation of the agricultural department in 1882. However, the seeds of agricultural research in today’s Assam were sown in the dawn of the twentieth century with the establishment of two Rice Experimental Stations, one at Karimganj in Barak valley in 1913 and the other at Titabor in Brahmaputra valley in 1923. Subsequent to these research stations, a number of research stations were established to conduct research on important crops, more specifically, jute, pulses, oilseeds etc. The Assam Agricultural University was established on April 1, 1969 under The Assam Agricultural University Act, 1968’ with the mandate of imparting farm education, conduct research in agriculture and allied sciences and to effectively disseminate technologies so generated. Before establishment of the University, there were altogether 17 research schemes/projects in the state under the Department of Agriculture. By July 1973, all the research projects and 10 experimental farms were transferred by the Government of Assam to the AAU which already inherited the College of Agriculture and its farm at Barbheta, Jorhat and College of Veterinary Sciences at Khanapara, Guwahati. Subsequently, College of Community Science at Jorhat (1969), College of Fisheries at Raha (1988), Biswanath College of Agriculture at Biswanath Chariali (1988) and Lakhimpur College of Veterinary Science at Joyhing, North Lakhimpur (1988) were established. Presently, the University has three more colleges under its jurisdiction, viz., Sarat Chandra Singha College of Agriculture, Chapar, College of Horticulture, Nalbari & College of Sericulture, Titabar. Similarly, few more regional research stations at Shillongani, Diphu, Gossaigaon, Lakhimpur; and commodity research stations at Kahikuchi, Buralikson, Tinsukia, Kharua, Burnihat and Mandira were added to generate location and crop specific agricultural production packages.

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Subject: Agricultural Economics × Author: BARUAH, DEBASMITA × End date: 2023 × Start date: 2020 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    PRODUCTION AND MARKETING OF ASSAM LEMON IN NALBARI DISTRICT OF ASSAM
    (2021) BARUAH, DEBASMITA; Deka, Nivedita
    Assam lemon, which is most popularly known as Kaji Nemu in Assamese is indigenously cultivated and found in the state of Assam. In Assam cuisine of these lemons constitute an integral part and are used for preparing fresh drinks or beverages and can be dried or pickled which can be preserved for years.Assam lemon is a native dwarf cultivar of the state of Assam suitable for high density planting.The scientific name of Assam Lemon is Citrus limon and it belongs to the Rutaceae family. Assam lemon is enriched in aromatic oil and vitamin C and also a good source of iron, fiber, copper and calcium. Assam lemon is the highest grown citrus fruit in the state; it was observed that in the year 2018-19 the total cultivated area under Assam Lemon was 13802 hectares with a production of 1.19 lakh metric tonnes and the average yield per annum was 8645 kg/hectare. In this study an attempt was made to get a clear view on production and marketing aspects of Assam lemon by analyzing the growth rate of area, production and productivity of Assam lemon in the state, examine the economic feasibility of Assam lemon cultivation, study the marketing pattern of Assam lemon and to identify the constraints faced by the farmers.The study examined the trends and variation of area, production and productivity of Assam lemon in Assam as well as in Nalbari (undivided) district from 2009-10 to 2018-19.The compound growth rate of area (1.25*, 9.65***), production (2.53*, 10.82***) and productivity (1.26*, 1.06*) of Assam lemon showed positive behavior in Assam and Nalbari (undivided) district respectively. Considerable variability was also observed in case of area (5.75, 27.98), production (10.85, 30.09) and productivity (5.37, 10.3) of Assam lemon in Assam and Nalbari (undivided) district respectively. The change in total production was examined by additive decomposition and it was revealed from the study that yield effect contributed more to the change in production of Assam lemon in Assam whereas area effect relatively had stronger stimulus and contributed more to the change in production of Assam lemon in Nalbari (undivided) district. The study found that farm-category wise the expenditure on establishment of the crop was highest on medium farms and lowest on marginal farms thus implying that the total establishment cost incurred increased with increase in farm size.It was also observed that the total maintenance cost increased with increase in farm size. The total maintenance cost incurred was highest on medium farms followed by semi-medium farms, small farms and marginal farms.For overall farms the establishment cost amortized over 15 years at the rate of 6 per cent per year, average maintenance cost per year, total cost per year, average gross return per year and net return per year was estimated to be Rs. 4,502.96 per hectare, Rs. 60,075.27 per hectare, Rs. 64,578.23 per hectare, Rs. 2, 27,762 per hectare and Rs. 1, 63,183.77 per hectare respectively.The benefit cost ratio at 6 per discount rate, NPV at 6 per cent discount rate and IRR for overall farms worked out to be 3.8, Rs. 12,01,425 and 66.95 per cent respectively thus indicating that Assam lemon cultivation is economically viable and profitable and has the potential to generate additional revenue. Three marketing channels were identified in the study area viz, Producer- Pre-harvest contractor- Wholesaler- Retailer- Consumer, Producer- Wholesaler- Retailer- Consumer and Producer- Consumer. Through the first marketing channel products were transacted to distant places and through the second and third channel the products were sold in nearby markets.It was revealed that marketing channel III (Producer - Consumer) was found to be more efficient whereas the marketing channel that involved more number of market intermediaries i.e., channel I (Producer - Pre-harvest contractor – Wholesaler – Retailer - Consumer) was found to be the most effective in the study area because 65.16 q constituting 55 per cent of the marketed surplus moved through that channel to the distant markets.The study also revealed that lack of technical know- how, high cost of establishment in the initial stage, high fluctuation in market prices and small land holding in technical, economical, storage and marketing and general constraints respectively were the major constraints faced by the farmers in Assam lemon cultivation. Regular monthly training programmes by KVKs regarding new technology, development of regulated markets, formation of FPCs, cooperatives, provision of Government subsidy on essential agricultural inputs, etc., would help to overcome the obstacles in production and marketing aspects of Assam Lemon cultivation.