Meghalaya came into existence as a full fledged State on 21st January 1972. It is essentially a hilly State with a plateau, grasslands and deep river gorges. About 80 per cent of the people depend on agriculture for their livelihood. The land area under irrigation is 55,182 hectares. Rice, maize, fruit (oranges, pineapple, plums, pears), potato, turmeric, pepper, cotton, jute, oilseeds, cashewnut, tea, coffee, mushroom, medicinal plants, flowers such as orchids are grown in the State. The industries promoted are cement, electronics, furniture, iron and steel, fabrication and tyre retreading. Meghalaya’s mineral wealth includes coal, limestone, fine clay, quartz and silica sand. The winters are cold, summers pleasant, and the average annual rainfall is 250 cm.