Opportunities:

i.Availability of land races adapted to different rice growing systems for use in breeding programme to develop rice variety suitable for different rice agro-ecosystems of the region as well as eating quality preferred by NEH people.

*Rice Cultivation - A Way of Life for the People of North Eastern Hill Region of India DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.99108*


Threats:


Problems are many at the same time equal opportunities are also available for increasing rice production and productivity in the North Eastern Hill States.

#### **4. Conclusion**

To feed the ever increasing population in the NEH Region as well as to maintain the rice self-sufficiency in the region to-day, the present productivity of rice has to be increased at least to the tune of national average. The less productivity of rice in this region may be due to its varied physiography including hilly terrain forming different rice ecosystem. Any single improved variety cannot be grown suitably in all the ecosystem demanding lot many number of varieties with less quantity of seeds. The region is inhabited by more than 200 different ethnic groups who have

different preference of crop variety and quality, taste preference along with spiritual and religious difference. Because of this feature of land and people, no seed industry comes forward to establish their business for profit. When the yield and cost involved per hectare is looked in to, the rice cultivation in this region usually landed with less profit, sometimes loss due to harsh environment and low productivity. But, whether it is profitable or not, people of this region have to continue to grow rice which have been continuing since time immemorial because of its subsistence nature of agriculture, simple life and a sense of food security with rice.

Being rice the staple food of the NEH region, its cultivation under varying agroecosystem ranging from rain-fed lowland to deep water and fragmented land holding system of NEH farmers, a strong breeding program and quality seed production looking into the demand of rice farmers has to be initiated. Proper linkage for better input supply system with the concerned State Govt. and Research institutes should be strengthen leaving each other ego behind for the interest of improving livelihood of rural poor farmers of this region.
