General Knowledge of Assam - Complete Guide
What Percentage Of Assam’s Population Depends On Agriculture For Their Livelihood?
Agriculture is the backbone of Assam’s economy and the primary source of livelihood for most of its people. According to economic surveys and state-level employment data, about 50–55% of Assam’s total workforce is engaged in agriculture and allied activities such as farming, livestock, fishing, and horticulture.
This high percentage highlights the dependence of rural households on farming despite the state’s gradual growth in industries and services. Key crops such as rice, tea, jute, pulses, sugarcane, and oilseeds dominate the agricultural landscape. Tea alone provides direct and indirect employment to lakhs of workers in Assam.
While agriculture remains the largest employer, the contribution of the sector to Assam’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) has been decreasing compared to industries and services. This shows that although a majority of the population still depends on agriculture, diversification into industries, IT, and services is slowly reshaping the employment structure of the state.
In short, around half of Assam’s workforce (approx. 50–55%) is employed in agriculture, making it the largest employment sector in the state.