Symbols of Meghalaya Notebook (Small) - Two - Set of 2

One of the most important fruit crops in the State of Meghalaya, Pineapple, is grown from the plains up to about 1000m above mean sea level. Purely a rain fed crop it grows best on the foothills and on un-terraced slopes on the hills. The most popular variant is the Giant Kew, followed by the Queen. These large, juicy and aromatic fruit are generally sold by women vendors on the roadside. In Meghalaya it is mostly grown in areas of Ri Bhoi, East Khasi and Garo Hills where native agricultural practices are still in use, producing smaller yields of fruits that are free from chemical residues.

Meghalaya translates as 'the abode of the clouds' in Sanskrit. The little town of Cherrapunji in the Indian state Meghalaya receives the maximum rainfall recorded in the world. Cultivators and farm hands in these parts rely on the knup or rain shield while working on steep agricultural slopes, characteristic of this region. The knup is shaped like a shallow cone and looks like an inverted teardrop when worn. Handwoven as a hexagonal pattern in two layers with locally available bamboo known as shken in the tribal dialect khasi and dried palm leaves called shlew; Knups are handmade by women and sold in local weekly markets. Farmers working under them make for an image that embodies the agricultural landscape of this part of India.