Occupations of People in Nagaland

 1. Farming

The Economy in the state of Nagaland is dependent mainly on agriculture as 70% of the population is dependent on it. The State's remarkable feature is that there are no landless peasants in the state. The various kinds of crops cultivated in Nagaland are corn, pulses, oil seeds, fibers, sugarcane, potatoes, tobacco, millets, and rice. Vegetable crops are melon, cucumbers, spinach leaf, mustard, onion, carrots, tomatoes, brinjal etc.

The two method of cultivation of indigenous Naga tribes are Jhumming and terrace cultivation. The area under jhum cultivation is about 87,339 hectares and under terraced cultivation is about 62,091 hectares.

In spite of agriculture being the main occupation of the people, the state still has to import food items from other states. This has happened due to the fact that people followed unsustainable agricultural practices which has led to the loss of fertility due to soil erosion.

The Government is trying to persuade the villagers to change over from Jhumming to Terrace farming by starting many irrigation projects and establishing community  Development Project.

2. Cottage Industry

Nagaland is an industrially backward state. Handloom and handicrafts are the traditional cottage industries. Most of the handloom and handicrafts industries are running by the cooperatives. The Nagaland Industrial Development Corporation is the premier promotional organisation in providing guidance and capital assistance to entrepreneurs.

All Naga girls are expected to know weaving and they normally produce at home the necessary cloth for the family. Among the modern girls, the art of weaving is not particularly fashionable, though they know the working principles of it. The loom is a simple tension loom. It is exclusively a woman's possession and a man may not touch it. In fact, both spinning and weaving are the monopoly of women. Dyeing was also done by women only. A man who violated this rule, it was said, would not have any luck in hunting or fishing.

The state is trying to encourage small-scale and cottage industries. This will reduce the pressure on land, ensure a larger employment potential and lead to a balanced regional development. Weaving  training-cum-production centers have been set up.

3. Tourism

Nagaland, sometimes referred to as the Switzerland of the east; the exquisitely picturesque landscapes, the vibrant colorful sunrise and sunset, lush and verdant flora, unimaginable beauty, molded perfectly for a breath taking experience. 

The tourism industry in Nagaland has immensely contributed to the economic strengthening of the north eastern state of India. Blessed with natural scenic beauty and unique cultural ancestry, Nagaland draws several tourists from far and wide. The tourism industry of Nagaland helps the state to earn huge revenues.. Main tourist places are Kohima, Dimapur, Khonoma, Dzukou valley, Dzulekie, Japfu Peak, Tseminyu, Longkhum, UngmaVeda Peak, Shilloi Lake, Mount Tostu etc.

Nagaland has many places of tourist interests that attract visitors through out the year. The different tribal cultural traditions of Nagaland make the north eastern state of India more colorful and attractive to tourists. The unique social customs and religious ceremonies of the aboriginal tribes of Nagaland attract several tourists who are thrilled with the unique traditional heritage of the region that has percolated to the modern era from the ancient times.

4. Livestock Rearing

Livestock in Nagaland is considered to be a major sector which contributes significantly towards the rapid economic growth of this state. Animal husbandry is a prime occupation of the local people of Nagaland. Poultry, fishery, piggery, dairy and cattle farming are the areas which are taken care of under the animal husbandry department of Nagaland.
The livestock in Nagaland has huge possibilities of further growth. In fact the livestock of the state plays an important role in enhancing the economy of Nagaland. The local people of Nagaland include a lot of meat items in their daily diet. Hence, it is but natural that the meat products are in high demand in Nagaland. Also, there is a ready market for dairy, poultry and fish products in Nagaland.

The government of Nagaland is planning to widen the scientific scopes in the field of livestock rearing and breeding in the state. Since the angora wool has a high economic value hence the rearing of angora rabbits is another important field where the Nagaland government is taking initiatives. In order to make Nagaland livestock a prime facilitator in the economic progress of the state there is a need for proper infrastructural system. The poultry farms and fishery departments of the state of Nagaland are required to be equipped with all modern-day facilities that can help in the efficient functioning of the same.

5. Mining Industry

The vast reserve of minerals in Nagaland has led to the sudden proliferation of industrial establishments within the north eastern state of India. Nagaland has large stock of mineral resources of coal, nickel, cobalt, magnetite, marble, petroleum, stones, natural gas and limestone. The state government of Nagaland has laid down strict rules for extraction of minerals according to the guidelines issued by the Nagaland Ownership and Transfer of Land and its Resources Act. The mining industry of Nagaland has absorbed vast population of the state. The mineral resources led to the establishment of many important industries that has added to the economic strength of the state.

Nagaland supports various other allied industries that are again dependent on the mineral reserves of the state. The extraction of minerals has helped in the development of the economy of Nagaland. Some of the industries of Nagaland that are based on the vast amount of mineral reserves of the north eastern state are:

• Extraction of petroleum and natural gas industries
• Extraction of molybdenum, copper, gold and silver metals
• Limestone industries