10.57647/ijamad.2025.10533

Potential of Commercial Crops in Livelihood Sustainability in Mizoram, Eastern Extension of the Himalaya

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  • Vishwambhar Prasad Sati*1,
  1. Department of Geography and Resource Management, Mizoram University, Aizawl – 796004, India

Received: 26-03-2025

Revised: 22-07-2025

Accepted: 04-08-2025

Published in Issue 30-09-2025

Copyright (c) 2025 Vishwambhar Prasad Sati (Author)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Sati, V. P. (2025). Potential of Commercial Crops in Livelihood Sustainability in Mizoram, Eastern Extension of the Himalaya. International Journal of Agricultural Management and Development, 15(3). https://doi.org/10.57647/ijamad.2025.10533
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Abstract

Traditional agriculture remains the primary occupation and main source of livelihood in Mizoram. However, arable land is scarce, and crop production and productivity are low. This
study explores the potential of commercial crops—fruits such as banana, grape, lemon, orange, and pineapple; spices such as ginger; and plantation crops such as betelnut, oil palm, and rubber—for enhancing livelihood sustainability in Mizoram, the eastern extension of the Himalaya. The study is empirical and is based on a case analysis of 16 villages, two from each of the eight districts. A purposive sampling method was used to select 1,527 households. A structured questionnaire was administered to household heads to gather information on commercial crops, their cultivated area, production levels, contribution to livelihood sustainability, and economic viability. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlation techniques. The results show that commercial crops offer strong economic viability along with notable environmental benefits. Although the area under these crops is limited, their production and productivity are comparatively high. They also demonstrate considerable potential for improving the livelihoods of rural households. Given Mizoram’s ecological fragility and susceptibility to natural hazards, commercial crops—especially fruits and plantation crops—can play an important role in environmental conservation.

Keywords

  • Traditional agriculture,
  • Commercial crops,
  • Livelihood sustainability,
  • Mizoram
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