Department of Agriculture and Horticulture (Assam)

Department of Agriculture and Horticulture

কৃষি আৰু উদ্যান শস্য বিভাগ  (Assamese)
State emblem of Assam
Department overview
Formed	1950 (1950)
Jurisdiction	Government of Assam
Headquarters	Block, 1st Floor, Janata Bhawan (Civil) Dispur, Guwahati-781006
Minister responsible	Atul Bora, Minister
Department executives	Aruna Rajoria, IAS, Commissioner and Secretary Tej Prasad Bhusal, ACS, Secretary
Child agencies	Directorate of Agriculture Directorate of Horticulture and Food Processing Assam Seeds Corporation Limited Assam Seed and Organic Certification Agency Assam State Agriculture Marketing Board State Agriculture Management and Extension Training Institute Assam Small Farmers' Agri Business Consortium
Website	agri-horti.assam.gov.in

The Department of Agriculture and Horticulture () is a department in the state government of Assam, India which is responsible for the administration and promotion of agriculture in the state, regulation of agrarian services, ensuring food security and food processing, and improving livelihoods of the farming community.

The department is headed by a minister usually of cabinet rank, or the Minister of Agriculture, currently Atul Bora who has been in office since 24 May 2016.

History

The history behind the creation of the Department of Agriculture in Assam dates back to April 1882 during the colonial rule. The department was responsible for conducting crop-cutting experiments on winter rice, mustard and sugarcane cultivation in the state to assess the productivity of land preparation and assessment proposals during settlement.

In 1893, an Agricultural Conference was held in Shimla and based on the recommendations of the conference, the British Government deputed Sir E. Buck to Assam in 1895 to discuss and implement the conference's recommendations in Assam. Buck advocated the appointment of an agricultural expert to ascertain agricultural defects and introduce agricultural improvements. In 1897, B. C. Basu, a Deputy Collector in Bengal, was appointed as assistant director.

In 1905, following the partition of Bengal and the subsequent creation of the Eastern Bengal and Assam province, the Department of Agriculture was separated in 1907 to form the Department of Land Records and Agriculture. Assam became a separate province again in 1912 and the Department of Land Records and Agriculture continued to exist until 1922. In 1923, the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Industries was established.

Following India's independence in 1947 and the subsequent formation of the state government under the chief ministership of Gopinath Bordoloi, the Department of Agriculture was formed in the state. Omeo Kumar Das was appointed as the state's first agriculture minister. Since then, the department has existed.

Organisation

The Department of Agriculture and Horticulture is the nodal agency and is administered through two directorates and five specialised agencies:

Directorate of Agriculture

The Directorate of Agriculture () is responsible for the formulation and implementation of the state's agrarian policies and programmes aimed at achieving rapid agricultural growth through optimum utilisation of land, water, soil and plant resources and implementation of beneficiary-oriented schemes for the economic upliftment of the farmers. The directorate also establishes farmer-dependent coordination in implementing and providing technological knowledge to the farming community through agricultural extension services.

The directorate is also responsible for creating assured irrigation facilities for farmers through minor irrigation schemes, promoting the use of farmer-friendly bio-fertilisers, encouraging farmers to minimise pesticide use, and controlling environmental pollution through integrated pest management. It also monitors soil health, educates farmers on soil and water conservation technologies, undertakes measures to provide agricultural credit and crop insurance, helps the farmers in getting remunerative returns for their produce, and implements flood and drought relief programmes. It also contributes towards the economic empowerment of women and the eradication of rural poverty.

The directorate is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the following schemes and projects:

• Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi
• Mukhya Mantri Krishi Sa Sajuli Yozana
• National e-Governance Plan-Agriculture (NeGP-A)
• National Food Security Mission (NFSM)
• National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)
• National Mission on Agriculture Extension Technology (NMAET)
• National Mission on Oil Seeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP)
• Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)
• Rashtriya Krishi Vikash Yojana (RKVY)
• Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF)
• Chief Minister Samagra Gramya Unnayan Yojana (CMSGUY)

Directorate of Horticulture and Food Processing

The Directorate of Horticulture and Food Processing () is responsible for the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes aimed at achieving rapid growth of the horticultural sector and ensuring an increase in area coverage to increase production and productivity of horticultural crops by transferring technology. It also undertakes all possible measures to ensure a timely and adequate supply of quality planting materials and motivates farmers to minimise the use of chemicals and adopt organic farming practices.

The directorate also aims to increase the production and productivity of fruit crops, vegetable crops, and spice crops and ensure good health and augment market and marketing facilities.

The Directorate of Horticulture and Food Processing is responsible for the implementation of the following schemes and projects:

• Bee Keeping Scheme
• Coconut Development Scheme
• Horticulture Mission for North East and Himalayan States (HMNEH)
• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana -Per Drop More Crop (PMKSY-PDMC)
• Mission Organic Value Chain Development in Assam (MOVCDA)
• Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
• Rashtriya Krishi Vikash Yojana (RKVY)
• SASMIRA Scheme for Agro-Textile
• State Plan Scheme

Assam Seeds Corporation Limited

The Assam Seeds Corporation Limited () (ASCL) was established in 1967 to provide unique services for the production of all kinds of high-yielding varieties of seeds to the farmers and other customers at a fair price. It also produces foundation seeds from breeder seed on its own farm, which are then procured from the Assam Agricultural University.

Assam Seed and Organic Certification Agency

The Assam Seed and Organic Certification Agency ( (ASOCA) was established on 1 January 1985 as an autonomous body of the Government of Assam under the Seed Act 1966 and was registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. The agency recognises varieties of seeds eligible for seed certification and publishes and maintains lists indicating the names of such varieties and kinds.

Assam State Agricultural Marketing Board

The Assam State Agricultural Marketing Board () (ASAMB) was established under the Assam Agricultural Produce Market (AAPM) Act 1972 to provide for better regulation of buying and selling of agricultural produce and the establishment of a market for agricultural produce in the state of Assam. The board is responsible for the coordination of the working of the market committees for the development of the market and market areas and state level planning of the development of agricultural produce and markets.

State Agriculture Management and Extension Training Institute

The State Agriculture Management and Extension Training Institute ( (SAMETI) is the state-level nodal training institute of Tripura, established under the scheme "Support to State Extension Programme for Extension Reform" in the year 2011 at Krishi Bhavan Campus, Khanapara, Guwahati. The institution is autonomous in nature, with greater flexibility in structure and functioning, and is responsible for human resource development and capacity building of extension functionaries of different line departments on scientific extension management.

Assam Small Farmers' Agri Business Consortium

The Assam Small Farmers' Agri Business Consortium ( (ASFAC) was established on 1 October 2001 and was registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 on 24 December 2001. The agency functions to catalyse agro industrial growth in different parts of Assam based on principles of ecological sustainability, economic efficiency and social equity, and undertakes programmes for employment generation, growth and diversification of agriculture and other food based industries to increase food production and export of food products.

Ministers

Portrait		Minister (Birth-Death) Constituency	Term of office			Political party	Ministry	Chief Minister
			From	To	Period
		Omeo Kumar Das ওমেও কুমাৰ দাস (1895–1975) MLA for Dhekiajuli North	26 January 1950	5 August 1950	2 years, 61 days	Indian National Congress	Bordoloi		Gopinath Bordoloi
			9 August 1950	27 March 1952			Medhi I		Bishnuram Medhi
		Ram Nath Das ৰাম নাথ দাস MLA for Jorhat North	28 March 1952	21 April 1957	5 years, 24 days		Medhi II
		Moinul Hoque Choudhury মইনুল হকে চৌধুৰী (1923–1976) MLA for Silchar East	21 April 1957	27 December 1957	9 years, 329 days		Medhi III
			27 December 1957	1 March 1962			Chaliha I		Bimala Prasad Chaliha
			1 March 1962	16 March 1967			Chaliha II
		Lakshmi Prasad Goswami লক্ষ্মী প্ৰসাদ গোস্বামী MLA for Jamunamukh	16 March 1967	11 November 1970	3 years, 240 days		Chaliha III
		Ataur Rahman Choudhury অতৌৰ ৰহমান চৌধুৰী MLA for Chenga	11 November 1970	31 January 1972	1 year, 81 days		Choudhry		Mahendra Mohan Choudhry
		Upendra Das উপেন্দ্ৰ দাস MLA for Rangamati	31 January 1972	12 October 1974	2 years, 254 days		Sinha		Sarat Chandra Sinha
		Mohammad Umaruddin মহম্মদ উমাৰুদ্দিন MLA for Dhubri	12 October 1974	12 March 1978	3 years, 151 days
		Soneswar Boro সোণেশ্বৰ বড়ো MLA for Golaghat	12 March 1978	4 September 1979	1 year, 176 days	Janata Party	Borbora		Golap Borbora
		Santi Ranjan Das Gupta শান্তি ৰঞ্জন দাস গুপ্তা MLA for Hojai	9 September 1979	11 December 1979	93 days		Hazarika		Jogendra Nath Hazarika
Position vacant during this interval
		Anwara Taimur আনোৱাৰা টাইমুৰ (1936–2020) MLA for Dalgaon	6 December 1980	30 June 1981	206 days	Indian National Congress	Taimur		Anwara Taimur
Position vacant during this interval
		Santi Ranjan Das Gupta শান্তি ৰঞ্জন দাস গুপ্তা MLA for Hojai	13 January 1982	19 March 1982	65 days	Janata Party	Kesab		Kesab Chandra Gogoi
Position vacant during this interval
		Ranendra Narayan Basumatary ৰানেন্দ্ৰ নাৰায়ণ বসুমতাৰী MLA for Kokrajhar West	28 February 1983	23 December 1985	2 years, 298 days	Indian National Congress	Saikia I		Hiteswar Saikia
		Nilamoni Das নীলামণি দাস MLA for Mangaldoi	24 December 1985	28 November 1990	4 years, 339 days	Asom Gana Parishad	Mahanta I		Prafulla Kumar Mahanta
Position vacant during this interval
		Anwara Taimur আনোৱাৰা টাইমুৰ (1936–2020) MLA for Dalgaon	30 June 1991	14 May 1996	4 years, 319 days	Indian National Congress	Saikia II		Hiteswar Saikia
							Barman		Bhumidhar Barman
		Chandra Mohan Patowary চন্দ্ৰ মোহন পাটোৱাৰী (born 1955) MLA for Dharmapur	15 May 1996	17 May 2001	5 years, 2 days	Asom Gana Parishad	Mahanta II		Prafulla Kumar Mahanta
		Ardhendu Kumar Dey অৰ্ধেন্দু কুমাৰ দে (1938–2022) MLA for Hojai	17 May 2001	21 May 2006	5 years, 4 days	Indian National Congress	Tarun I		Tarun Gogoi
		Pramila Rani Brahma প্ৰমিলা ৰাণী ব্ৰহ্ম (born 1951) MLA for Kokrajhar East	21 May 2006	18 May 2011	4 years, 362 days	Bodoland People's Front	Tarun II
		Nilamani Sen Deka নীলামণি সেন ডেকা (born 1953) MLA for Dharmapur	30 May 2011	26 January 2015	3 years, 241 days	Indian National Congress	Tarun III
		Rakibul Hussain ৰকিবুল হুছেইন (born 1964) MLA for Samaguri	26 January 2015	24 May 2016	1 year, 119 days
		Atul Bora অতুল বৰা (born 1960) MLA for Bokakhat	25 May 2016	Incumbent	10 years, 69 days	Asom Gana Parishad	Sonowal		Sarbananda Sonowal
							Sarma		Himanta Biswa Sarma

See also

• Government of Assam
• Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare
• Department of Agriculture Development & Farmers' Welfare (Kerala)
• Ministry of Agriculture (Maharashtra)
• Department of Agriculture (Tamil Nadu)
• Department of Agriculture (West Bengal)