Introduction
The District Agriculture Office (Zila Krishi Bhaban) in Golaghat was established on 12.09.1989 and is located at a distance of 1.5km from Golaghat town. Golaghat district is situated in North-Eastern part of Assam between 26° and 27° North latitude and 93° and 94° 18´ East Latitude. It is guarded by the mighty Brahmaputra in the north, surrounded by Nagaland in the south, Jorhat district in the east and Karbi-anglong and Nagaland to the west sprawling in an area of 3502 sq.km having 3 agricultural sub division, 8 development blocks and 621 revenue villages. The main river of the district is Dhansiri which is a tributary of the Brahmaputra. The climatic and geographical condition of Assam is very much suitable for agriculture activities. Agriculture occupies a very important sector in the district and is a source of occupation for majority contributing to agranian economy. The forest cover of the district is 40% of the total and 40% is cropped land and the rest 18% is uncultivable and 2% is fallow land. Agro based tea, rice (Ahu and Sali), vegetables and sugarcane are the main agricultural crops grown in the district. Among these there are fiber crops (jute and cotton), pulses (black gram, lentil, green gram, gram, tur), oil seeds (linseed, castor, sesame, rape & mustard), plantation crops (banana, papaya, orange, pineapple, areca nut, coconut etc), spices (chilly, onion, turmeric, ginger etc.), potato, sweet potato, wheat are common among the farmers of the district. A total area of 70544 ha is under high yielding variety of rice, autumn rice covers about 1169 ha area and yield about 2426kg/ha, winter rice covers about 65749 ha with a yield of 2959kg/ha, summer rice covers about 3626 ha with a yield of 3353 kg/ha. The district consist of three civil sub division 8(eight) blocks, 102 Gaon Panchayat and 621 revenue villages. The 8 development blocks present in the district namely North block (Dergaon), West block (Bokakhat), South Block (Sarupathar), Central Block (Kathalguri), East block (Podumoni), Kakodonga block, Morongi block and Gomariguri block. The total farm family of the district are 2,03,311 nos. out of which 100% of the farm family are engaged during kharif season and 1,22,765 no. of farmers are engaged during Rabi season. The net crop area of the district is 1,43,790ha. The Kharif area comprises 1,43,790ha and Rabi area of the district comprises of 67,790ha.
TOPOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE
The topography of the region exhibits a monotonous plain towards north and southeast and quite undulating towards the southwestern part. The climate is subtropical humid type with the relative humidity ranging from 93-95% in morning and form 53-75 % in afternoons. The temperatures recorded in Golaghat district ranges from 10ºC in January to 38ºC in July. The average annual rainfall recorded in the district is 1720.45 mm and the most important is the intensity and duration of rainfall which is quite variable. There are three climatic seasons-summer, monsoon and winter. Hydrogeologically also the district is proved to be very potential.
VISION
Golaghat district is predominated by agriculture and is the greatest assets of an area which play a vital role in agricultural development. Not only farmer’s development but the prime objective of District Agriculture Department is also socio economic upliftment of the families related to agriculture through implementation of different schemes. The prime vision of District Agriculture Golaghat is “To achieve productivity growth targets, conservation of natural resources and integration of farming system in holistic approach to bring about sustainable increase in the farmers income to make the district a hunger free one”.
STRATEGIES FOR A BOOMING AGRICULTURE
To overcome hindrances of flood prone areas (Dergaon, Khumtai and Bokakhat revenue circle), Tea garden areas (covering many parts of the district) and Drought prone areas (Sarupather, Borpathar, Merapani and Gamariguri areas) a three year action plan (2018-19 to 2020-21) has been chalked out with the following strategies:
1.Increase productivity:
i) Soil Health Management: Improving/upgrading existing soil testing laboratories. Distribution of soil health cards.
ii) Production of quality seeds/planting material: Establishing seed village of flood/drought resistant varieties. Accreditation/up gradation of nurseries for quality planting material.
2. Enhancement of production:
i) Area expansion under cereals, pulse, oil seeds, fruits, vegetables & spices.
ii) Area expansion under flood and drought resistant varieties.
iii) Raising community nurseries.
iv) Mechanization and micro irrigation.
v) Organic farming and organic value chain.
vi) Diversification of farming.
vii) Growing crops of high nutritious value.
viii) Establishing STW,LLP, WHT etc.
ix) Multiple cropping
x) Integrated agriculture farming.
3. Marketing and value addition
i) Post harvest management for better sale price.
ii) Food processing unit for value addition.
iii) Collective marketing.
iv) Promotion of FPO/FPC.
v) Implementation of world bank aided project for many commodities: “Assam Project on Agri-Business for Rural Transformation” (APART).
4. Capacity building
i) Skill development/capacity building/exposure visit for farmers.
ii) Refresher’s courses for extension functionaries.
Contact Details:
District Agriculture Officer: Mr. Nabin Ch. Bora
Phone: 9435489143
Email Id: dgolaghat@gmail.com
Address: District Agriculture Office, D. R., College Road, Furkating, Assam 785621
