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General Information:
| Area |
22,429 Sq. Km |
| Population |
2,318,822 |
| Capital |
Shillong |
| Languages |
Khasi, Garo and English. |
| Boarders |
North and East: Assam;South and West: Bangladesh
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| SexRatio |
975females/1000males |
| Districts |
7 |
| Literacy |
62.7%
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History :
Meghalaya was created as an autonomous state within the state of Assam on 2 April 1970. The full-fledged State of Meghalaya came into existence on 21 January 1972.
Geography :
Meghalaya is also literally known as the the abode of clouds. It is bound on the north and east by Assam, and on the south and west by Bangladesh. The pre dominant inhabited tribal communities are Khasis, the Jaintias, and the Garo. The Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills, which form the central and eastern part of Meghalaya, is an imposing plateau with rolling grasslands, hills and river valleys. The southern face of the plateau is marked by deep gorges and abrupt slopes, at the foot of which, a narrow strip of plain land runs along the international border with Bangladesh.
Agriculture:
Meghalaya is basically an agrarian state, in which about 80 per cent of the population depend primarily on agriculture for their livelihood. The State has a vast potential for developing horticulture due to agro-climatic variations, which offer much scope for cultivation of temperate, sub-tropical and tropical fruits and vegetables.
Besides the major food crop of rice and maize, Meghalaya is renowned for its oranges (Khasi Mandarian), pineapple, banana, jackfruits, temperate fruits like plum, pears and peaches, etc. Cash crops, popularly and traditionally cultivated include potato, turmeric, ginger, black pepper, arecanut, betelvine, tapioca, short staple cotton, jute and mesta, mustard and rapeseed. Special emphasis is presently laid on the non-traditional crops, like oilseeds (groundnut, soyabean and sunflower), cashewnut, tea and coffee mushroom, medicinal plants, orchids and commercial flowers.
Industries
The Meghalaya Industrial Development Corporation Limited, as the Industrial and Financial Institution of the State, has been rendering financial assistance to the local entrepreneurs. District Industries Centres have been working in the field for the promotion and development of small-scale, village, tiny and cottage industries. A number of industrial projects have been set up for the manufacture of iron and steel materials, cement and other industrial products.
Economy:
Only 10% area is used for cultivation. Rice is the main crop. The important crops of the state are potato, rice, maize, pineapple, banana etc. Other crops include jute, ginger, mustard, sugarcane, chilli etc. These crops are produced in substantial quantities and are being marketed in adjoining states. Meghalaya is important for fruit cultivation. Fruits include pineapples, oranges, bananas etc. The irrigation potential is much larger than the achievement. Only about 18% of the ultimate capacity for providing water to the land is being used.
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