ECONOMY


The economy of the district is Agriculture based-the traditional one. The economy of Sonitpur is underdeveloped and has its own pace, trend, tradition and development process . Sonitpur is trade  center  for Bomdilla, Tawang,Seppa  and Itanagar of Arunachal Pradesh. Tezpur, Dhekiajuli, Rangapara, Biswanath Chariali and Gohpur are important trading centers in the district.

Agriculture :-     
Sonitpur is  basically  an  agrarian economy. Approximately 80 percent    of the population depends on agriculture allied( primary sector) activities for their livelihood .  Rain fed cultivation of single paddy crop still continues in most areas of the district. 

However with the help of irrigation facilities like shallow tube wells, high yielding variety of seeds  and  tractors  have made multiple cropping possible.  Both Rabi and kharif cropping is done in the district .

Paddy, jute, sugarcane, tea, pulses and mustard are the major crops and tobacco, potato, vegetables    and  fruits like coconuts, banana, pineapples, oranges, mangoes are subsidiary crops of the district. Rice is the  staple food.  The farmers mainly depend upon cultivation of wet paddy. Among  the  cash crops jute is grown on the low  lying  areas of the bank of the Brahmaputra.

Here three types of rice are grown :

Ahu(Autumn rice),  Sali(Winter),  Boro(Summer).

Mustard is normally grown in conjunction with Ahu or riparian Flats.

Pulse is grown mainly in alluvial flat lands near the river Brahmaputra.

The following pulses are mainly produced –

Mati-mah, magu-mah, arahar, masur-mah, motor-mah, garo-mah, lesera-mah etc.

Horticulture :-
Sonitpur offers favourable soil and climatic conditions for cultivation of various horticultural crops. In fruits  banana, pineapple, citrus, jackfruit, guava & litchi occupy important places. Coconut and areca nut are predominant plantation crops. In spite   of immense   potentiality  for the development of horticultural crops the commercial horticulture in true sense in the district is yet to have a breakthrough.

Fruits and vegetables growing are highly remunerative . Such cropping is labour intensive and creates scope for engagement of rural labourers and is also suitable for efficient utilization of  marginal & unproductive lands.

Horticultural products like Lichis of Lichu Pukhuri, Tezpur, Pineapples of Ketekibari ,Tezpur, Potatoes of Gingia and green chillies are famous in  India.

Tea Gardens :- 
The next most important feature of the economy of Sonitpur is the existence  of large number of tea gardens.  There are all together . Seventy three  tea gardens in Sonitpur district. The area covered under these tea gardens is approximately 2,81,660 Bighas.

Monabari near Biswanath Chariali is Asia’s largest tea garden. With an area of 1096 hectares with annual tea production of 2632670 Kgs in year 2000. Borgang tea estate is the 2^nd largest with 1018 hectors of a total production 1689941 Kgs. (for list of tea gardens click here)

Most  tea gardens were  previously owned by European concerns like Mecnill & Magor, George Williamson Ltd., Mcleod Russel, British Assam tea garden company, Empire  Plantation Limited. etc. However in recent years many Indian owned companies like Tata Tea,  Brooke Bond etc.  are taking over the ownership of the tea gardens. Apart from the big companies recently small tea gardens with area of 40 to 100 bighas have come up in many number near the big gardens. They basically sell tea-leaves to the big gardens who own factories.

The Traditional Economy  Trend: 

In the district traditional economy provides a big source of income to the people for their livelihood. People rich in traditional activities like and prefer their traditional job.

Following activities are mentioned as Traditional Economy:

Piggeries : Tribals and other weaker sections of the society are traditionally involved in pig rearing in the district. 

Pig is one of the most efficient feed converting animals having  the shortest generation intervals high    prolificacy and faster growth rate , all these traits are directly  and positively correlated with the overall   economy in production.  Pig farming as a commercial venture is still to be established in the district .

Poultry Production : The poultry production in district is mainly Desi bird oriented and is mainly in the hands of the rural people who rears mostly the desi or non descript type of poultry.

The indigenous poultry are poor producers under traditional form of management. Inspite of heavy market demand popularity and non easy availability of poultry meat & egg in the market ,poultry production has not come up to the desired level.

Fishery : As we know people here are fond of fishes and they catch fishes for their food. Basically fishing   here is a tradition rather  than commerce,  as 90 % fish products are imported.   In the district fishery is  quite  popular  commercial  activity but it is also not developed to the desired level. River Brhmaputra and  about  1000 no.of ponds provide huge scope of fish production.

Weaving   :   Handloom weaving is an important cottage industry that has been flourishing in Assam from ancient times. It still occupies a place of pride in every Assamese household which invariably maintains a handloom besides other articles for spinning and weaving. It is universally practised cottage industry by rich and poor alike and has no stigma of caste or creed attached to it. Most of its products are of utility value.

            Muga Mekhala and Riha , decorated blouse piece , Eri chadar etc. are of some of the best specimen of handloom products which show the creative genius of the weavers in Assam, that is called “Fabrics of delicate textures and designs”.

Sericulture : Chinese records dating as far back as 248 AD mentioned about the trade route from South China through the Shen states. Brahmaputra river and Kamrupa to Pataliputra includes Tezpur. Sonitpur is well known for excellent quality of silk. Here following types of silk are found: Muga, eri and Pat ( Mulberry silk)

Sericulture is the most important cottage industry not only of the district but also of the state of Assam. Extensively practised during the agricultural off season as a subsidiary occupation, it occupies an important place in the rural economy of the district. Sonitpur has tremendous scope to develop sericulture.

Gold and Silver Smithy : This industry is very traditional one. The industry is mainly concentration in the urban areas. The artisans are from families who  have been traditionally associated with the industry. The indigenous jewelers  exhibit   considerable amount of skill and artistic refinement in making golden ornaments such as dugdugi, galpata,  jonbiri , keru, thuria, gamkharu etc.

Carpentry in the rural areas is more or less a subsidiary occupation. Village carpenters do all types of works like furniture making, house building, wooden agricultural equipments like plough, harrow, yoke etc.

Bamboo and Cane work : Among the traditional crafts the making of bamboo and cane products is perhaps most universally practised by all sections of the people throughout the state. Its products have wide range of uses and as such commonly found in every household.

This craft has been mainly a household industry and occupied an important place among thehandicrafts of the district. It provides a subsidiary occupation of the cultivators and full time occupation to these highly skilled artisans who produce only fine decorative baskets, furniture and mats etc on commercial scale.

Mainly it has been a rural industry that is commonly pursued by the agriculturists in their spare time as a      subsidiary occupation; but now a great professional and commercial approach can be seen in this business.

A lot of SHGs are involved in this business.

Small Scale Industries (Modern type):

In Sonitpur a lot of small scale industries are established that engage a huge employment and make  good attribute to the economy. (for list of SSI units click here)

Saw mills: The district is rich in forest resources and offers ample opportunity for the development of the timber industry like saw mills, plywood factories and manufacture of furniture fixtures.

The other small scale industries are Rice mills, Flour mills, Oil mills, Soap factories, Ice factories, Wax factories, Incense factories.

Brick kiln etc. are found in  a large number.

Nezone Foods Pvt. Ltd., Madhabi Biscuits and  Sonitpur Biscuits   are good bakeries that produce good quality of cakes and biscuits. 

T&I (TRADE AND INDUSTRIES Pvt. Ltd, Tezpur)  is a major industry  of  Sonitpur district.  It manufactures tea machineries and exports to foreign countries. 

 ASSAM  COTTON  MILL, Chariduar is big textile company.

________________________________________
    Home|Accessibility|Land&People|Legend&History|Archaeology|Tourism|Culture|Economy|Education
             Administration|Govt. Establishment|At a Glance|Telephone Index|Tezpur Town|Photo Album
_________________________________________________________________________________

                                                  Web Site  developed by
                                               National Informatics Centre,
                                              Sonitpur District Unit, Tezpur
                            Information provided by the District Administration
              For any suggestions or comments please write to tezpur@nic.in