Linear Programming Based Optimum Crop Mix for Crop Cultivation in Assam State of India

The Assam, the gate way to the north east is an agrarian state with rice as the staple crop. Nearly 89% of the state’s population of about 3 crores lives in rural area. The productivity of the major crops like rice, pulses and oilseeds is yet to reach acceptable level despite various efforts in the past. Optimum crop mix for Assam has been developed using linear programming to maximize the net returns ensuring the best use of land and other natural resources for the state. Attempts have been made to obtain crop combination under rainfed and irrigated area separately in both kharif and Rabi season. The result from the linear programming based model indicates higher returns than the existing crop plan (Rs. 39.30 hundred crore in optimum plan over 34.16 hundred crore in existing plan at market price). Sensitivity analysis also indicated that the profit can be increased substantially by bringing the fallow land during Rabi season under irrigation. This implies that there is potential in bringing more land under double or triple cropping considering vast water availability in the state.