Various factors like heavy rainfall, floods, soil erosion and undulating terrain have affected the soil formation process, which gave diverse textural classification of soils in the district. As per textural classifications, red soil is 2.42%, alluvial soil 26.14%, sandy soil 18.08% sandy loam soil 39.28% and clay loam soil 14.08% .On the whole the district is having light to medium textured soils suitable for growing the wide range of crops successfully without being influenced by other inhibiting parameters for growth and development.  The soil reaction (PH) of the district is mostly acidic, in the range of 5.0-6.0. Both the phosphorus and potash content of the soil is in the medium category of 10.25 to 15.00 and110 to 280 kg/ha, respectively. Two categories of organic carbon viz., 0.5-0.75 (medium) and >0.75 (high) have been recorded.
The soils of the district are generally acidic in nature. Out of the total cultivable area (2, 74,812 ha), 14.45 % area accounts as mild acidic, and this can be reclaimed through appropriate soil amendment. Affect of soil acidity prevails in all 17 blocks ranging from lowest area of 240 ha in Bongaon block to highest area of 4000 ha. in Boko block. Though the extent of acidity is mild in nature, it may turn to severe to very severe in course of time if it is left unattended. Iron toxicity and Micronutrient deficiency accounts for 0.81 and 3.23 per cent of the cultivable area, respectively. Iron toxicity of mild nature is found in 9 blocks. Immediate corrective measure is necessary to subside iron toxicity. Boron deficiency exists in the district and observed clearly on coconut, arecanut and on some vegetable crops, but is not yet clearly visible on other main crops. Soil erosion is one of the major threats in the district; however its severity varies across the blocks. Mild severity persists in 7 blocks and very severity in 2 blocks namely Chaygaon and Goroimari blocks.  Soils of Chandrapur, Hajo, Rangia and Goroimari are also affected by sand deposition. 

Operational land holdings of the district

There are 219,463 land holdings against total cultivable area of 2,74,812 ha with average land holding size of 1.25 ha in the district.  0.46% are very large farmers who possesses 1.86% area, 6.21% are large farmers occupying 18.03% area, 12.13% constitute medium farmers and are holding 25.53% area, 25.46% are small farmers possessing 32.60% area, 31.57% are marginal farmers who are holding 16.68% area and 24.17% are landless farmers and are having access to only 5.30% area. The district has a very distinguishable land ownership distribution pattern where 18.80% resource rich farmers (very large, large and medium) are having access to 45.42% area. On the other hand there are 81.20% resource poor farmers (small, marginal and landless) having access to only 54.58% area. Thus it indicates that the district has enormous scope for both diversification and intensification with higher technology in addition to the low cost technology to address existing problems of large section of resource poor farmers.  The operational land holdings in the district are 2, 87,176 with 3, 62,940 ha cultivable area under different categories. Small farmers are occupying 31.20 % of area, marginal 18.02%, medium 13.90%, large 11.51% and very large 1.65%.

The geographical area of the district of Kamrup is 4, 34,500 ha, out of which 4,18,594 ha falls under blocks of the district and rest 15, 906 ha comes under Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) area. Thus land utilization of the district presented on the basis of the geographical area falls in blocks (rural area) baring area under GMC. Out of 4,18,594 ha geographical area, 66% is cultivable area and out of which  cultivated area is 91.40%, culturable waste 4.42% and current fallow 4.18%. Sizeable area under culturable waste can be reclaimed and brought under cultivation. The area under forest is 15%, pasture 3%, non-agricultural use 9%, miscellaneous plantation 4% and barren and uncultivable land 3%.

Agricultural activities in the district are predominantly rain fed as out of the total cultivated area of 2,51,156 ha only 19% area is under irrigation. However, rainfed areas across the blocks vary from 35.45% in Chamaria block to highest 95.65% in Rani block. Rainfall is moderate with annual average rainfall of 995 mm during 2005 to 2234 mm during 2004 as per rainfall data for 5 years (2000 to 2005). Major amount of rainfall is received from April to October viz. the peak period of Kharif crops growing season. Remaining months are generally dry due to no rainfall or scanty rainfall and rainfed Rabi crops mostly suffers from moisture stress.  
            Principal crops under irrigated are summer paddy (Boro paddy) and Vegetables during Rabi season. In addition, Wheat, Potato, Pulse & oilseeds and flowers are also irrigated in sporadic /isolated places during Rabi. Major source of irrigation in the district is Shallow Tube Well that contributes 86.90% out of total irrigated area of 48036 ha. Shallow tube well irrigation existed in all blocks with varying degree of coverage of 3.04%a under Rani block and as high as 56.37% area under Chamaria block. Other irrigation schemes of the district are “Flow irrigation scheme” contributes only 3.65% and confined in 4 blocks namely Boko, Chaygaon, Goreswar and Rani likewise “Lift irrigation scheme” contributes 2.12% and is confined in Dimoria. Chandrapur, Hajo, Kamalpur, Rangia and Chamaria blocks. Besides above, the rapid growth in irrigation status seems difficult under the present situation and therefore, it is necessary to re-looked and redefined the package of practices based on rainfed agriculture on a holistic approach.

Climate can be divided into four distinct seasons’ viz., Pre-monsoon, monsoon, post monsoon and winter. The pre-monsoon occurs from March to May. The rainfall during this period varies from 20-25 percent of the total precipitation. Monsoon season starts from June to August. The Precipitation varies from 60-70 per cent of the total. The post monsoon extends from September to November, characterized by decrease in temperature and rainfall. The winter season starts from December to February and characterized by low temperature and scanty rainfall with seasonal cool breeze. The maximum and minimum temperature ranges 31.33-33.000C and 8.00-13.500C respectively. The Relative Humidity ranges 78-80%)

Occurrence of flood is a regular phenomenon in the district particularly in AES-III, AES-IV and AES-VI. It has been found that flood causes tremendous damage to the agricultural crops, livestock, fisheries and human being. Sporadic occurrence of drought in some parts of the district has been observed, more particularly in winter months.

Paddy is the principal crop of the district due to its climatic adaptability and main staple food of the region. Three crops of paddy namely autumn (Ahu), winter (Sali) and summer (Boro) are raised in the district. During 2006-07 area under paddy was 1,13,458 ha, which is 66% of cultivated area (1,72,496 ha) giving a total rice production of  175185 MT. Of the above Autumn, Winter and Summer occupied an area of 17953 ha, 57853 ha and 37652 ha and production is 16085 MT, 75035 MT and 84065 MT respectively. Oilseeds occupied an area of 9738 ha giving a production of 5317 MT, Pulses 6201 ha with a production of 3559 MT. Fibre crops (Jute and Mesta) occupied an area of 3607 ha giving a production of 50429 Bales, Sugarcane with an area of 846 ha and production of 41528 MT. The other Cereals occupy an area 3864 ha giving the production of 6735 MT. Details of area, production and productivity of different agricultural crops is depicted in table. 

Table: Area, production and productivity of major agricultural food crops (2006-07)

Kamrup district has immense potential for growing wide range of horticultural crops which includes fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices, tuber crops, nut crops, medicinal and aromatic plants. Banana, pineapple, areca nut and coconut are the major horticultural crops, besides, mandarin orange, and flowers such as tuberose and marigold are gaining importance presently.
Horticultural crops occupying nearly 34778 ha area in Kamrup district. The crop wise breakup of area, production and productivity is shown in the table.

Table: Area, production & productivity of major horticultural food crops (2006-07)

Livestock rearing has been an indispensable enterprise of the farming community. Every household is in some way engaged in livestock rearing at farm level. Commercialization has not yet gained momentum though there is ample scope and   demand. Cows, milch buffaloes, bullocks, sheep, goat, poultry and piggery are some of the major livestock commodities. However, cows & bullocks are predominant livestock of the district. The percentage of upgraded cows is only 7 % & 93 % is of local breed and unproductive, bearing in an average only 1.0 liters of milk per day. However, rearing of improved breed cows has gain momentum from the year 2000-01. Open grazing is the general practice as stall- feeding entails establishment cost and sufficient food reserves. Rearing of poultry and duckery is a common household activity in the rural areas. Though commercialization of poultry (meat purpose) only get gained momentum in an around the metropolis and presently farm bred poultry accounts for 25.92 % of the total poultry population of the district.
        Piggery is popular among tribal people of the district. It is noteworthy that exotic breed accounts for 44.9% of the total pig population. Rearing goat and sheep is also preferred and reared by the people particularly living below poverty line. The number of animals and birds are increased with the period and accordingly production has also increased. At the same time productivity has increased from 2000-01 onward, which clearly indicate the effect of improved breed and the effect of infusion of improved germplasm to the existing population, which need to be encouraged. Total number of livestock and poultry and their products of the district are shown in the table 1 and 2.

Table: Livestock population and production of Kamrup district: (2006-07)

Table: Production of Milk, Meat and Egg of the district (2006-07, 2007-08)

Existing scenario of fishery enterprise

Fish is an important constituent in dietary requirement of majority of the population in the district. This enterprise is occupying an area of 10,673 ha and out of which 260.57 ha is under individual ponds, 32.34 ha under community ponds, 4516.69 ha under beel fisheries, 2027 ha under river fisheries and 270 ha under swamp and low-lying areas, 67 ha under forest and 3500 ha paddy field is suitable for culture. Total demand for fish is 0.25 lakh MT. The present production is about 0.12 lakh MT. Hence there is a gap of 0.13 lakh MT. The fish production since 1970-71 to 2004-05 shows an increasing trend from 5.00 to 12.14 tons.  In case of fish seed production, productivity has remained unsteady. Present production from all kinds of resources is 15,223 MT with an average productivity of 1,552 kg/ha, which is still lower against the required level of productivity of 3,000 kg/ha due to low adoption of proper scientific technologies. During the year 2008-09 the fish seed production is 4.13 crore. The total area, production and productivity of the fish and fish seed of the district is shown in the table

Table: Area, production and productivity of fish and fish seed of the district

Existing scenario of sericulture enterprise

         Sericulture is an important cottage industry in the district. The golden silk (Muga) produced only in Assam; more particularly in Kamrup district and has a high quality export potentialities. Annual production of Muga reeling cocoon is 4302 Lac Nos, production of Muga yarn is 86.05 MT and seed 89.15 Lac layings (2007-08). Eri and Mulberry culture is also having high potentialities in the district. The total area, production and productivity of Muga and Cocoons of district are depicted in the table.

Table Area, production and productivity of Muga and Cocoons of the district