Potentiality And Problems Of Wetland Agriculture: A Case Study Of Jamlai Wetland, Kamrup Rural, Assam

The livelihoods of millions of people were contributed by the wetlands in diverse ways. However, the rapidly growing population in many places, in conjunction with efforts to increase food security, is putting pressure to expand agriculture within wetlands. Assam is endowed with large numbers of wetlands and agricultural practice in and around the wetlands is a common phenomenon. As per the ‘Environmental Information system, Assam’ the human settlers mostly in the lower Assam have turned many wetlands into agricultural zones rich in rice and vegetables. Keeping this view in mind Jamlai wetland has been selected for conducting the case study, which is situated in the Kamrup district of lower Assam. The study is conducted during October 2019 to January 2020. The objective of the present study was to investigate contribution of agriculture to household, to identify factor affecting profitability of farming activities and to study wetland agricultural problems. The contribution of agriculture to household economy was calculated by gross margin analysis. Multiple regression analysis was undertaken for factors affecting profitability. The study found fish forming to be the most profitable business followed by paddy cultivation. In case of factors affecting profitability farm size, education and HYV application were found to have significant impact on rate of return. Issues of same crop practice, flood, growing trick industries hampler growth of agriculture and if these issues are solved the potentiality from agriculture can also be increased.