Indian Journal of Dairy Science
Indian Journal of Dairy Science
Indian Journal of Dairy Science
INTRODUCTION eghalaya is one of the seven sister states of the North-Eastern Region (NER) of India with total geographic area of 22,429 sq.km. which is 8.55 per cent of the NER's geographic area. The total population of the state is 2.31 million in 20Olwhich is 5.95 per cent of NER's population out of which rural population is 80.4 per cent. The population density of the state is lO3 persons per sq.km. The state is a predominately tribal state as 85.94 per cent of the population is tribal population in the state. l![ -'Agriculture plays an important role in Meghalaya's economy and employs more than 65 percent of the total workforce of the State. It contributed nearly 307o to the state's NSDp in i999-00. Agriculture not only supplies raw materials for industries outside the state such
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as cotton, jute, ginger etc. but also provides inputs to other few small agro-based industries in the state such as turmeric, paddy, majze etc. Agriculture is mainly of subsistence nature and organic by default and Jhoom cultivation is widely prevalent in the state. Livestock is an important component of mixed farming system due to preference of meat in their daily diets. The whole NER is known as meat consumin g zone of India as, unlike other parts of India, no, social taboo is attached to any type of meat but the most preferred meat is pork and beef. Consumption of milk and milk products is lower in the state in comparison to Northern states of India due to food habit and less availability of milk but due to increase in per capita income and changes in life style demand for milk and milk products
Assislant Professor (Economics), School of Social Sciences, College of Post Grad.uate Studies, CAU, Umiam-793103, Meghalaga Associote Professor (Form Management), Schoot of Social Sciences, College of post Grad.uate Studies, CAU, Umiam7 9 3 1 0 3, M e ghalag a. Eriail-ramsingh. eau@g mail. com. Mo No -0 9 4 0 2 I g Z 62 4
3 PhD Research Scholar (Dairg Economics), National Dairg Research Institute, Karnal, Haruana-j32OOL 201 1-OO9 Receiued:Decernber 2010; Accepted:February 201 1
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