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To make a survey of what has been achieved so far in various fields on the path of progress and development. it is only right to giving ourselves time to pause and look back to the past. The past achievement can only act as a spring board for further intensifying our efforts along such lines in the present, for effectively harnessing available resources and exploring new openings for the future development. The Achievement may not appear noteworthy, but, comparatively, inspite of various constraints and shortcomings, there is no doubt that the District is surging ahead.

1. Agriculture

Foodgrain Crops

The main foodgrain crops grown in the district are paddy, mnaize and millets. Though the major areas under these crops are grown with traditional varieties of crops, the department has now been able to motivate the farmers to take up crops of high yielding varieties like IR 36, Pusa-221, Megh-l, Megh-l l and U S- I by supplying quality seeds, fertilizers, etc., at 50% subsidized rates.

Commercial Crops:

The main commercial crops grown in the district are potato, ginger, turmeric, oilseed, black pepper, arecanut and betel leaves. To increase the area and production of commercial crops, the department is providing good varieties of potatoes,like Luirijyoti, kubri Megha, fibreless varieties of ginger, nadia and lakadong variety of Turmeric and some exotic variety of black pepper brought trom Kerala

Vegetable Sector :

Inspite of the fact that vegetable seeds are being provided by government at 50% subsidised rate, this sector has not been able to make much progress. The reason may be due to cattle problem, where, during winter season, being the peak period for vegetable cultivation, cattle could not berestricted from roaming free, thereby, destroying and treading the sprouting crops.

Multi cropping :

To make use of the Irrigation facilities provided by the Irrigation Wing in the command area of Kynshi, Umyiap, Aradonga and Manai, a multi-cropping programme was taken up by the department where paddy, potato and vegetables could be grown continuosly in the same year. To boost up production in the district this scheme is being encouraged, where farmers are being supplied with seeds, free of cost and also 50% subsidized rate

Horticultural Crops :

Among the Horticultural crops, orange, banana and pineapple are grown in the district Though some temperate fruits like plum, pear and peach are grown in the upper region, they are yet to take off on commercial scale. To encourage farmers to take up more horticultural crops, planting materials at 50% subsidized rate are being provided by Government. Besides, PP Chemicals /fertilizers, etc., are also provided to rejuvenate old orange orchards affected by die back disease.

Experimental Tea Centre :

An experimental tea center was established in 1976-77 at Riangdo, under Mawshynrut Development Block. where an area of 2.72 Hectares was put under plantation of tea crops On experimental basis. The varieties of tea tried here, include Betjan, Nanda Debi, Tengamine, stock-449, Manipur, Poly clonal, TV-1, 9, 14, 16, 17 and 18 , AV-2, TK-78, B-157 and 668. It is found that the quality of tea produced in this experimental plot is very good and, at present, the green leaves produced in the farm are sold to the nearest tea factory at Boko, Assam. Out of the varieties grown here, poly clonal, Betjan, Nanda Devi and Tengamine are doing well in terms of yield and quality.

2. Minor Irrigation :

The Irrigation wing of the Agriculture department seeks to provide assured water to the farmers during the lean season, along with proper utilization thereof, and to optimize agricultural production through better management of land and water in the command areas.

3. AGRICULTURAL MECHANIZATION

The main objective of this wing of the Agriculture department is for hiring out of agricultural machineries like power tillers, tractors, bull dozers, to the small and marginal farmers in the district at 60% sabsidy.

Recently, the government has introduced a loan-cum- subsidy scheme whereby small and Marginal farmers have been encourage to come forward and buy their own power-tillers and tractors at subsidised rates.

4. SOIL CONSE RVATION

Through the different range offices located at Nongstoin Mairang, Riangdo, Weiloi and Ranikor, the department has been able to implement various schemes for conserving soil and water for a balance ecological development in the district. The main schemes implemented by the department are

General areas soil conservation scheme

Jhum control/Jhumias Rehabilitation Scheme

Water Management Project

Central Sector Schemes

5. SOCIAL FORESTRY

The main activities of the Social Forestry division of West Khasi Hills District including afforestation of Wastelands and degraded land, roadside plantation, raising of seedlings for departmental plantation as well as for free distribution.

6. WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

West Khasi Hills is the biggest and the only district in Meghalaya where there is no forest area owned or directly controlled by the Government. From the Wildlife point of view, it is one of the district with maximum damages caused by wildlife, specially by wild elephants. The Shallang Wildlife Range office, which was earlier under Balpakram National Park Division, Baghmara, was shifted to Khasi Hills Wild Life Division, Shillong on 2nd December, 1992 for better management of wildlife species and administrative control in certain parts of West Khasi Hills District, specially the eastern and northern part of Balpakram National Park which falls under West Khasi Hills portions. Besides, the range office has been set up there in order to perform the anti- depredation works in certain areas from Sonapahar upto areas bordering East Garo Hills District.

7. ANIMAL HUSBANDRY & VETERINARY

The Animal Husbandry and Veterinary deptt. was established in the district right from 1976-77 with the main objective of combating diseases in livestock and to encourage and assist the people of the district to take up farming in livestock on commercial scale so as to substantiate their income generating capacity. The main schemes are

Piggery and Poultry Farming

Animal Health Care

Assistance to Educated Unemployed Youth

Chilling Plant

8. FISHERY DEVELOPMENT

West Khasi Hills District has vast potential for development of culture and capture fisheries. The fishery resources comprise of rivers, streams, ponds and some natural lakes. As the position stands today, pond fisheries have been practiced by some people in a very traditional way and scientific fish culture in the district is a recent trend. The deptt., since its inception in 1974, has taken up some development scheme like "Assistance to pisciculturists" by rendering financial assistance to private fish farmers with a view to intensify pond culture fisheries and also to augment fish production. Today, the bulk of fish production comes from capture fisheries, with Ranikor river contributing the majority of fish landing in West Khasi Hills District.

The department of Fisheries has, till date, set up 2 (two) fish seeds farms at Mairang(Laitblieh) and Nongstoin(Porsohsat) to meet the growing demand for fish seeds in the district. These fish farms also serves as Demonstration centres to private pisciculturists. Besides, in the recent past, the department has taken up some development schemes for the benefit of the fish farmers and to boost up fish production in both farm culture and capture fisheries. Integrated fish farming schemes in the rural areas like Paddy cum-Fish culture, Piggery-cum-fish culture and Duckery-cum-Fishery were taken up to improve the socio-economic condition of the people.

9. SERICULTURE AND HANDLOOM (WEAVING)

Sericulture and Handloom Weaving are the two important cottage industries in the West Khasi Hills District, which are linked with traditional and cultural life of its people. The varieties of silk worm reared in this district are Mulbery, Eri and Muga. The plantation area under Silk worm food plants is about 624 hectares covering about 2,700 families

For extending facilities to silk worm rearers in the form of planting materials, manure, fencing materials etc, village extension centres were set up at Umkrem (for Mulberry), Malangkona, Nongdaju and Aradonga (for Eri) while the Pilot Extension Centre is set up at Malangkona (for Muga). For raising the chowkie worms (early stage worms) to be distributed to beneficiaries silkworms rearers, three chowkie rearing centers were set up at Khliehmawlich, Nongshillong and Koltapara.

For raising food plants, three nurseries have been set up in the district. They are Nongdaju (for Mulberry), Aradonga and Malangkona (for Muga). For the purpose of providing necessary training to the local reelers and spinners, a Muga Reeling unit at Umsohpieng and an Eri spinning centre at Malangkona were set up.

Handloom Weaving :

In order to encourage weaving activities in the District, 2(two) Weaving Training Centres were set up at Nongstoin and Aradonga. There are also 2(two) demonstration centres at Malangkona and Umkrem, 2(two) Pilot Handloom Weaving Centres at Maweit and Mairang and 1(one) handloom production-cum demonstration centre at Khonjoy Besides, some more pilot weaving centres are being proposed to be set up at Dorangre, Malang and Chibak The 5(five) handloom weaver cooperative societies at Malangkona, Rangsapara, Puksora, Mawrynniaw and Chibak are being provided with departmental assistance.