DOI: 10.36347/sjahss.2018.v06i03.008

Pages: 533-538

Assam is one of the 8th states of the north east India with about 86 per cent of rural population. The economy of the rural population of the state is entirely based on the agriculture and allied activities. Although the agriculture is the major occupation and prime livelihood option of the communities, the economic support gained from the agricultural crops is not satisfactory and hence the economic condition of the people is poor. Apart from the cultivation of various crops, the people of the state also practice fishery, animal husbandry, sericulture, pottery etc. as their livelihood options. The district Lakhimpur is situated in the Upper Assam region along the northern bank of Brahmaputra river. Almost 91 per cent population of the district resides in the rural areas with poor socio economic status. To understand the various livelihood options and their prevailing problems, a study has been conducted in the district selecting two Developmental Blocks. For the collection of primary data and information, a total of 160 households are randomly selected from 8 villages considering 4 villages from each Developmental Blocks. The study reveals that although the major occupation of the people is agriculture, the productivity and economic return from agriculture is very poor. Besides the agriculture, the various communities have adopted other occupation like fishery, animal husbandry, handicrafts etc. A number of problems are found prevailing in the region that directly affects the occupation and the livelihood aspects of the rural mass. Occasional flood, lack of modern farming practices and poor infrastructural facilities are identified as major problems of the socio-economic development of the district.