Profile of Khumtai Village where the Kendra is located

Khumtai is a small village comprising 550 farm families. Major communities of the village are Ahom (60%) and Kachari (30%). Almost all the inhabitants are poor in economy. Agriculture is the main source of income of the villagers. Sali paddy is the major crop. During rabi season, pea, mustard and vegetables are grown in a commercial scale. Pig rearing is a common practice. The educational status of the village is not so high. However one college, one higher secondary school, two primary school, a Telephone Exchange, a Post Office, a Circle Office, Police Outpost and a Primary health centre are established here.

Profile of the District with Major Spoken Language

Golaghat is one of the oldest existing erstwhile subdivisions found exclusively at the northeast Indian state of Assam, produced during the pre-independence era in the year 1848, it has grown to be a full fledged district (139 years later) on October, 1987.

Golaghat is also a land, which evokes images of the captivating and mesmerizing Kaziranga National Park, truly blessed with tea gardens, dense forests, amazing ancient temples and ruins.  It is a land which has made way for development and progress while stocking to its roots through its traditional art, culture and heritage.

The name Golaghat ('Gola' which means shop and 'Ghat' meaning the landing point of river ferry ) originated from the shops established by the 'Marwari' businessmen during mid part of 20th century AD at the bank of river Dhansiri near present Golaghat town.

Early Period: Stone inscription of Nagajari Khanikar gaon of  Sarupathar, dating back  to the 5th century, reveals that there was an independent  kingdom in Doyang - Dhansiri  valley  and relics of ramparts,  brick   structures,  temples, tanks  etc.  discovered in  these   area  confirms the presence of a kingdom during 9th and 10th century.

Medieval Period: The Doyang – Dhansiri valley came under the rule of Ahoms during 16th  century. Prior to that, this part was ruled by the Kacharis known as Herombial. During Ahom rule this area was under 'Morongi – Khowa Gohain', an administrative officer.

Modern Period: After British took possession of Assam , Doyang – Dhansiri  valley  was  included  under the newly formed Golaghat subdivision of Sibsagar District in 1846. Later, Golaghat was elevated to the position of a full-fledged district of Assam on 15th of August 1987.

SC Percentage : 5.41
ST Percentage : 9.93

Density/km² : 270 (340)

Literacy of Golaghat District : 70.36%, Fifth in position (State : 64.28%)

Soil Type

The soil of Golaghat district moistly of two types inceptisol (Old alluvial) and Entisol (recent alluvial).The texture of surface soil ranges from Fine loamy, coarse silty and fine soil. 58% of total are categorized under fine loamy soil under Inceptisol.

Agroclimatic situation

According to divisions of agroclimatic zone, Golaghat district lies under Upper Brahmaputra Valley Zone. The various agro-ecological situations of the zone are:

• Humid alluvial flood free situation
• Sub-humid alluvial flood free situation
• Humid alluvial flood prone situation
• Highland situation
• Hill areas situation
• Tea growing area
• Forest area
• Char Area

The most typical characteristic of the soil of the district is its acidity. The major part of the soils of Golaghat district are acidic in nature. The organic matter content of soil is medium to high. The available N is medium and available P and K is low to medium. The climate of the district is humid sub-tropical in nature with warm humid summer and dry winter. The rainfall of the district is high (2244.5 mm), but its distribution over time and space is not uniform. The period from December to February is virtually dry having only 97.4 mm rainfall. During October to November also the rainfall is low (146.7 mm). The maximum rainfall of 1409.7 mm on an average occurs during June to September (62.8 %). The pre-monsoon months i.e. March-May, receives 590.7 mm (26.3%) rainfall, but its intensity and distribution are very erratic and unpredictable. The maximum temperature raises upto 370 C in July-August and minimum falls to 50C in January.

Sali rice is the main cereal crop of the district, covering 67.4 % of the net cultivated area. Ahu rice (5.8%) and boro rice (2.5 %) are also grown in the district. Other cereal crops such as wheat cover a negligible area (0.87 %). Rapeseed and mustard is the most important oilseed crop of the district, though sesame is also cultivated to a limited extent. Pea and blackgram are the major pulse crop while greengram and lentil are also grown in limited areas. Sugarcane is an important cash crop of the district. Among the important horticultural crops, pine-apple, arecanut, coconut, banana, citrus, jackfruits are cultivated throughout the district. Potato and vegetables are the two important commercial crops. Rabi and summer vegetables comprise 5.37 and 3.18 per cent, respectively of the net cultivated area. Tea is the main plantation crop, covering a substantial area of upland.

In case of livestock, local cow and buffalo are the main enterprises used both for milch and drought purposes. Poultry and duckery are also common. The livestock enterprises are still in subsistence level. Fishery is also found almost in every villages although very limited number are being utilized for commercial purposes. Homestead garden is an integral part of farming system where coconut, arecanut, citrus, guava, jackfruit, ginger, turmeric, vegetable etc. are grown. The cultivation is not systematic and it is the combination of mixed cropping and multistoreyed cropping.

Major Crops and Cropping Sequence

Rice is the most dominant crop followed by Vegetables, Pulses, Oilseeds, Tuber crops in the district. The productivity of all these crops are not satisfactory and below national average. Among the Horticultural crops Banana, Citrus, Pineapple, Arecanut and Coconut are grown by the farmers in extensive area. Apart from agricultural crops Sericulture food plants also covering a sizable area. The cropping systems of the district are presented in the Table -6. Generally Sali rice, Zinger, Turmeric, Sericulture food plants, sugarcane etc. are practised as monoculture in majority parts of the district. The common cropping sequence is Sali rice followed by Rabi Vegetables and in some parts Rape & Mustard. In the district live stock also plays a pivotal role in the rural economy next to agriculture. Scientific Fish rearing also gaining popularity among the new generation farmers groups. In this district livestock plays a pivotal role in the rural economy nest to agriculture livestock enterprises prevailing in the district are cattle ,Swamp, Buffalo, Goat ,pig ,poultry and Duck rearing.

Rice
Sali rice is the main cereal crop of the district, covering 67.4 % of the net cultivated area. Ahu rice (5.8%) and boro rice (2.5 %) are also grown in the district. Other cereal crops such as wheat cover a negligible area (0.87 %). Rapeseed and mustard is the most important oilseed crop of the district, though sesame is also cultivated to a limited extent. Pea and blackgram are the major pulse crop while greengram and lentil are also grown in limited areas. Sugarcane is an important cash crop of the district. Among the important horticultural crops, pine-apple, arecanut, coconut, banana, citrus, jackfruits are cultivated throughout the district. Potato and vegetables are the two important commercial crops. Rabi and summer vegetables comprise 5.37 and 3.18 per cent, respectively of the net cultivated area. Tea is the main plantation crop, covering a substantial area of upland.

Tea
There’re 65 Nos. of Tea Estate in the District and addition to this there are 1919 Nos. Small Tea Garden. The small Tea Growers suffer on the problems of Growth in unorganized way, lake of technical brake up, Land related problems, Non- availability of Financial support from the Banks., Marketing of Green Leaf, unsuitable minimum support price, Ecological in balance due to use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers etc.

1. Situation : Upland (Flood Free)
   1. Sugarcane
   2. Summer rice/vegetables – Blackgram/ Greengram – Pea/Rapeseed/ Vegetables
   3. Arecanut + Betelvine
   4. Tea
2. Situation : Medium/Medium Lowland (Flood free)
   1. Sali rice – Rapeseed/pea/Vegetables (for light textured soil)
   2. Sali rice
   3. Boro rice/early Ahu – Sali rice
3. Situation : Lowland (Flood Free)
   1. Sali rice
   2. Ahu rice – Sali rice
4. Situation : Flood Prone
   1. Sali rice
   2. Late Sali rice
   3. Rapeseed/Pea/Winter Vegetables
   4. Summer Vegetables – Winter Vegetables/Rapeseed/Pea
   5. Boro Rice
   6. Early Ahu – Late Sali

Irrigation

Irrigation is the lifeblood of modern agriculture. But in spite of having lots of scope to develop irrigation facility, the district is lagging behind .Only negligible area is covered under irrigation which is done by 5337 Nos of STW./LLP covering an area 10674 ha. The development of irrigation facility through STW. is not feasible due to low level and unsuitable ground water in the Nagaland Border area of the district.

Fish Population (2000)