Q.Describe the structure (sectoral composition) of Manipur's economy.

Manipur is a small, landlocked, hilly North Eastern state, and its economy has three broad parts of very different size. The services sector is now the largest.

Manipur is a small, landlocked, hilly North Eastern state with a central valley surrounded by hills, and its economic structure reflects this geography. It has three broad sectors:

1. Primary sector (agriculture and allied). Farming supports a large share of the population, especially in the valley, where rice/paddy is the main crop. Manipur is known for aromatic black rice (chak-hao) and for horticulture such as pineapple, orange and ginger; in the hills, shifting (jhum) cultivation is common. Agriculture supports many livelihoods but contributes only a moderate share of total output.

2. Secondary sector (industry). Large-scale industry is limited by difficult terrain, distance from markets, weak transport and a small local market. The real strength here is handloom and handicrafts — the largest cottage industry and a major employer, especially of women weavers — along with agro-processing, bamboo products and small units. …