Arunachal Pradesh became a full-fledged State in 1987. It is one of the most sparsely populated States in the country. Agriculture is the mainstay of the people. An area of 87,578 hectares is under irrigation and the cultivation of cash crops like potatoes, apples, oranges and pineapples received a fresh impetus through the adoption of improved scientific technology. The State has rich mineral resources such as coal, oil, gas, dolomite, graphite, limestone, marble, lead and zinc, which are tapped to develop mineral based industries. The State has rare varieties of flora and fauna. The winters are long and severe and summers are cool. It records an annual rainfall ranging from 200 to 400 cm.