MAJOR AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURE CROPS IN MANIPUR

The Department of Horticulture & Soil Conservation, Manipur have identified 2,77,064 Ha.as potential area for growing different horticulture crops like Fruit, Vegetable, Spices Root & Tuber crops, Aromatic & Medicinal plants etc. At present, the area under horticulture in the state is 44.335 ha. It is the only 16% identified horticulture area till 2002-03.

Tropical and Sub-tropical fruits:

Among fruits, Banana, Pineapple and Citrus take a major share in area and production. The other fruits which are grown in sizeable area are Guava, Papaya etc. Banana is native to this region (Tamenglong). Pineapple is mostly grown on hill slopes as rainfed crop. Giant Kew and queen are the two leading varieties being grown.

Kew is suitable for processing whereas Queen is grown for table purposes. In citrus, Khasi Mandarin and Orange is most popular. Lemons like Assam, Eureka and Kachai lemon are grown under foot-hill condition of Ukhrul, Churachandpur, Tamenglong and Senapati. Remarkable area of Hatkora (Citrus) used as spice is recorded in warm humid areas of Chandel and Jiribam.

Temperate fruits:

Peach, pear and plum are being grown successfully on higher altitudes; mostly low chilling varieties are performing well.

Pear : Leconte, Smith, Keifer, Coslin etc.
Peach : Flordasum, Shane-Punjab, Sharbati.
Plum : Santa Rosa, Doris, Mariposa.

Vegetables:

The Scenario in vegetables is much more promising. Low productivity in most of the vegetable crops grown is directly connected to the use of genetically inferior varieties coupled with low input farming and incidence of insect pests and diseases. Several improved and high yielding varieties and F1 hybrids are now available for large scale adoption. In Manipur the valley land, after the harvest of paddy, is being successfully utilized for large scale cultivation of vegetables. Now the farmers have started using F1 hybrids and high yielding OP varieties.

The state abounds in cucurbitaceous vegetables like Pumpkin, Bottle gourd, Ridge gourd, Cucumber and Dolichos, Vigna, Phosphocarpus and Phaseolous and Phaseolous vulgaris (French bean). Among solanaceous vegetables, brinjal, tomato, chillies and capsicum hold great promise. In cole crops, Cabbage and cauliflower are grown in limited area. Among exotic vegetables, brussels sprout and broccoli also hold good promise due to favourable climatic conditions but these are not popular among the farmers.

Off Season Vegetables:

In the high altitude hills it is possible to grow crops like tomato, cabbage, cauliflower, radish etc. as summer rainy season crops. Promising off season crops were found growing in temperate areas of Mao under Senapati District. Off -season cultivation of vegetables (tomato, cucumber, melons) under protected condition were also started in valley areas.

Mushroom:

Mushroom, a nutritionary food item is common among the people of Manipur since ages. Cultivation of Mushroom is getting momentum mainly on Agaricus, Volvariella and Pleurotus. Introduction of Mushroom cultivation as an industry will be the pivotal role for employment and income generation.

Root & Tuber crops:

Mushroom, a nutritionary food item is common among the people of Manipur since ages. Cultivation of Mushroom is getting momentum mainly on Agaricus, Volvariella and Pleurotus. Introduction of Mushroom cultivation as an industry will be the pivotal role for employment and income generation.

Spices:

Three commercial crops need mention in this respect, viz, ginger, turmeric and large cardamom. In ginger, varieties viz. Nadia, Poona, Suprabha were found promising. Large cardamom is a potential crop for the state.

Aromatic & Medicinal plants:

The vast plant resource (medicinal) recorded till now is limited to about 1200 to 1300 species. Out of this partly a few hundred (400/500) are used by the local people for the treatment of ailments so far recorded and local uses of the rest could not be available. The villagers living in direct national plant- environment rather than the modern allopathy treatment should be emphasized as priority. In the context, it is an apt to say that the state herburium, plantation policy, development of medicinal plants and pollution control, proposed during the year, 1994 under the Chairmanship of the then Advisor (P), Shri P.P. Shrivastav, Advisor to the Governor of Manipur initiated the importance of medicinal plants.

Moreover, aromatic plants also will play a main role in social, economic upliftment and environmental friendship.

(Source: Department of Horticulture & Soil Conservation, Government of Manipur)