Village Level Passion Fruit Site Suitability Maps of Champhai and Kolasib Horticultural Circles, Mizoram State

The project “Village Level Passion Fruit Site Suitability Maps of Champhai and Kolasib Horticultural Circles, Mizoram State” was undertaken under the Technology Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture in North Eastern States to operationalize earlier passion fruit suitability analysis at village scale. Its main objective was to generate detailed, village-level maps showing sites suitable for purple and yellow passion fruit within current jhum areas, and to prioritize these sites for phased orchard expansion based on biophysical and accessibility criteria.​

Focusing on Champhai (Khawzawl division) and Kolasib (Aizawl division) horticultural circles, the study translates remote sensing– and GIS-based suitability analysis into practical decision-support products for field implementation. Champhai, a high-elevation circle with 19 villages, already accounts for more than 80% of Mizoram’s passion fruit and grape area and is targeted for expansion of the indigenous purple variety. Kolasib, with 12 villages at comparatively lower elevation and gentler slopes, is earmarked for introducing the yellow variety, whose fruiting season complements that of the purple variety to enable near year-round supply.​

Methodologically, the project builds on IRS-1D LISS-III imagery and DEM-derived terrain layers (elevation, slope, aspect) used earlier to map current jhum and compute a passion fruit site suitability index. Current jhum areas were delineated using their distinct spectral signatures, and each jhum patch was characterized in terms of terrain parameters. The passion fruit suitability index, derived from agronomic package of practices and calibrated using existing orchards, was applied to identify suitable patches, which were then further stratified as Priority I and Priority II based on cluster size and proximity to settlements, roads, and drainage. All results were compiled into village-level maps and tables for both circles.​

Key outcomes show that in Champhai circle, a subset of the mapped current jhum (previously quantified at about 4,900–6,700 ha) is highly suitable for purple passion fruit, with approximately 600–630 ha identified as suitable and subdivided into higher-priority and secondary-priority clusters across villages such as Champhai–Tuipui, Selam–Lungphunlian, Hnahlan, and Mualkawi. In Kolasib circle, about 4,000 ha of current jhum were analyzed, and roughly one-third to half of this area was found suitable for yellow passion fruit, with prominent potential in villages such as Phainuam–Saiphai, Saikhawthlir–Bungthuam, Bairabi, Bilkhawthlir, and N. Thingdawl. These metrics confirm a significant, spatially clustered resource base for passion fruit-based horticultural expansion without further forest clearing.​

The project demonstrates that combining IRS LISS-III data, DEM-based terrain analysis, and GIS at village boundary level can produce actionable maps for crop-specific land-use planning in complex hill environments. The resulting village atlases of Priority I and II sites provide a concrete framework for targeting orchard expansion, extension, and infrastructure investments (roads, water, processing) under the Technology Mission. In doing so, the work offers a replicable model for using remote sensing and GIS to guide the transition of jhum lands into sustainable, high-value horticulture in Mizoram and similar regions.

Summarized Metadata

Mapping Scale: 1:50,000

Satellite data & Year: IRS 1D - LISS III & IRS WiFS (2002)

Thematic categories: Agriculture & allied 

Collaborating/Funding Agency: Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India; Space Application Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad; Horticulture Department, Govt. of Mizoram

Report Publication Month/Year: May, 2003