District Profile

      The altitude of Karbi Anglong district varies from 600 meters in the North range to 900 meters on South range, while that of the valley area range from 75 meters to 150 meters.

Topographically the Karbi Anglong district is divided into two natural divisions by a portion of the Nagaon district which bifurcates this district to form two detached parts. The eastern part comprises of two sub divisions Diphu and Bokajan and the other part known as Hamren sub division. The entire district consists of hilly region. Only narrow part of plains land found along the banks of the river Kapili, Dhansiri, Jamuna and Barapani. The hilly region ends in the Brahmaputra valley in the north, the Dhansiri plains on the east and on the west the plains of river Jamuna. Beyond this narrow plains the hills sharply rises and covered with dense forest. The upper reaches of Dhansiri and Kaliani are almost destitute of population. The beauty of nature from the blue hill ranges with wilderness of dense trees can be viewed from some 40 km away of Nagaland. On foot hills of the blue hill the Karbi people use to cultivate their daily needs as rice, vegetables, mustard, cotton etc. Bamboo, jungles and creeper trees found in the steeply sloping of the hills are places of habitation of wild lives. The outer ranges of the district are 450 meters height in average and the summits are 1000 meters or more above the sea level.

Further the district can be divided into two parts, one northern range is having an elevation of 600 meters stretches from Dabaka in the south west to Bokakhat in the north. Then higher southern range extends from Bakulaighat to Borpathar in the north east. The western part rises steeply from the narrow valley of Kalani separates the two parts. The plains area which includes the valley of Jamuna, Kapili and Dhansiri having elevation range of 75 meters to 250 meters stretches between Lumding, Hojai and Diphu. From among these, the valley of Jamuna is by far largest and most populated by heavy immigrants from both hills and plains in search of food and shelter. Then the Kapili valley including Dhansiri and the plains of Barapani river are also places of habitation of people since a petty long time. But now a days migration from various parts increases the density of population of these region considerably. The main peaks of northern and southern ranges are Bishandori, Kud, Mokrang, Mehekongthu, Raidan, Kankochan Chenghetishon, Matikhola, Warekmushak, Bargarichang, Bhaluk, Cheniabirshow, Hunghi , Khubaman etc.

          The population of the district is as per 2011 census is 9,56,313 out of which 843347 are rural (88%) and 112966 are urban (12%) with a population density of 92 per square kilometer. The population of the district consist of 490167 male (51%) and 466146 female (49%). The district Karbi Anglong has a tribal population of 538738 (56%) and schedule caste population of 44961 (4.7%). The male literacy rate and female literacy rate in the district are 76.14 % and 62.0 % respectively contributing to the 69.25 % total literacy rate of the district.

Data source: 2011 Census of India

                The region witnesses typical sub-tropical monsoon climate characterized by high relative humidity (73 to 84%) throughout the year. The overall climate is characterized by hot and moist summer and cool winter and is divided into four distinct seasons. The hot and the cold months are very distinct.

               The temperature data for last 25 years shows that the average maximum temperature in Karbi Anglong varies for its lowest 23.0 ⁰C in January to the highest 32.9 ⁰C in August. Similarly, the minimum temperature ranges from its lowest 7.9 ⁰C in January to the highest 24.2 ⁰C in August. Though the average rainfall in the district is 1147 mm, a considerable parts of district comes under rain shadow area and experience less rainfall during the period of monsoon which typically starts in May and lasts upto September in the district. Rain fall is heavy during the period June to September. This period is so far considered to be sufficient for the purpose of agriculture in the area. But during autumn and winter, rain fall is not at all adequate for winter and spring crops.

               The soils of Karbi Anglong are well drained, brownish to yellowish red with structural B-horizon classified under inceptisols, alfisols and Ultisols. It is made up of laterised red soils and non-laterised red soils. They are fairly well-drained soils. The soils are moderately to strongly acidic, with high organic matter content and low cation exchange capacity (CEC). The texture of topsoil mostly varies from sandy to loam soil and as such prone to soil erosion. The soil, in general, is sandy loam with good depth except on eroded hill slopes. As the soil is acidic and contained organic matters and nitrogen these help in producing many crops like paddy, sugar cane, mustard, cotton, maize including fruits like citrus, orange, pineapple, cashew nut, banana, etc.

             Out of total rural population of Karbi Anglong district 80% people are cultivators. They earn their livelihood from agriculture which forms about three fourth or more of the total population. The economic development of an area depends on land use pattern and uses of its resources. Although resources are plenty, these are not properly utilized for the economic benefit. A major portion of the land of the district is remained unused along with other ground resources.

                   The forest of Karbi Anglong offers a big economy not only to the district but also to the state. The forest are covered with dense bamboo and grasses and valuable trees such as Hollock, Gamari, San, Sonaru, Titasopa, Bonsum, Koroi, Foma etc. These forest products are exported from the district as timber which helps in generating economy to the district authority. The forest product plays a vital role to the natives of the district as they can meet their day to day demand of fire wood for cooking, thatches and bamboo for dwelling houses.

            Agriculture is the main stay of the tribal population of the districts. More than 85% of population in the district mainly dependent on agriculture. The wide range of climatic condition and rich soil of the district is suitable for growing almost all types of crops like rice, maize, wheat, toria, sesamum, sugarcane and horticultural crops like banana, pine-apple, orange, Papaya, ginger, turmeric etc.The traditional method of cultivation is the slash & burn one, commonly known as jhum cultivation is still practiced.

The total gross cropped areas in the district is about 2,27,598 ha and the net area is about 1,62,410 ha. The area sown more than once is about 51,165 ha with cropping intensity of about 140%.

• Rice is the main food crop of the district covering about 60% of the total gross cropped area.
• Maize is also a major cereal crop covering an area of 9174 ha, which is the highest in the state.
• Among the pulse crops grown in the district are arahar, black gram, green gram and pea.
• Oilseed crops like sesamum, rape and mustard, castor etc are grown extensively
• Sugar cane is grown extensively in the district.