In Arunachal Pradesh, about  80% of population living in the rural area is dependent on agriculture and 62.29% of the total working population are engaged in agriculture.

Agriculture plays an important role in the economic development of the state. The government is working on a proper planning and incentive mechanism required for changing the nature of agricultural activities from subsistence farming to commercial exploitation for cultivation of cash crops. Emphasis is being given to modernization of agriculture, promotion of scientific planning and cropping patterns to improve yield, replacing / improving the traditional ‘Jhum’ cultivation, extensive and intensive agriculture through assured irrigation facilities, infrastructural support in transport and communication, improvement of locally acceptable crop varieties conducive to varied agro-climatic zones, development of marketing network to generate income and to provide employment opportunities.

Agriculture is the mainstay of the people of Arunachal Pradesh, and had mainly depended on jhum cultivation. Encouragement is being given to the cultivation of cash crops like potatoes and horticulture crops like apples, oranges and pineapples.