An Assessment of Crop Diversification with special reference to Anthurium in Mizoram: A Study of Kolasib and Aizawl District

This paper attempt to study the livelihood systems and relative role of crop diversification by taking Anthurium as a product in the household economy, both in terms of its share in their income levels and also in comparison to the farmer households who are still practicing traditional agriculture without any diversification. And also the cropping pattern, production level and marketable surplus in agricultural sector and constraints in marketing. Mizoram situated on the North eastern part of the country have very little productive land. Due to steep slope and the topography of the land, agricultural production is not productive. The agro-climatic conditions is suitable for growing wide varieties of Horticultural crops including fruits, vegetables, spices, ornamental crops and plantation crops. Commercial Floriculture has a vast potential scope for large cultivation in Mizoram, the moderate climate being quite suitable. It has come up tremendously in recent years having export market. With the Department of Horticulture, Government of Mizoram implementing the Technology Mission, providing assistance to the selected beneficiaries, there is a huge scope for crop diversification and expansion in the cultivation of commercial floriculture which is having a positive impact on the income level and the livelihood status of the grower, thereby contributing to the economic development of Mizoram. An assessment on crop diversification tries to fulfill the gap by concentrating on Anthurium as a special case and its role on the household economy at the micro level to capture the opportunities created by crop diversification at the household level.