The State of Meghalaya is known for a large array of vegetables both sub-tropical and temperate. Some of the important sub-tropical vegetables are cucumber, pumpkins, bitter gourd, beans, brinjal, a variety of leafy vegetables, etc. Temperate vegetables include cabbage, cauliflower, tomato, peas, radish, carrot, beet, etc. In addition, there are certain indigenous vegetable crops that are grown in the State like tree tomato (cyphomandra betacca) and squash.

Important Vegetable Varieties Grown

* Cucumber : Local selection, Japanese long green and Sanyog
* Pumpkin : Local selection, Sugar baby, Hundred weight
* French-Bean : Dwarf-Premier, Master piece, Green pods
* Brinjal : Local Umroi, Muta Kesh (Round), Narrow
* Chinese Cabbage : Wongbok, Pakchoi, Chilili
* Brocoli : Calabrese Bronzine.
* Knolkhol : Early white Vienna, King of the market
* Cabbage : Golden acre, Pride of India, Copenhagen market, Pusa drumhead
* Cauliflower : Shillong local selection, Super snow ball
* Tomato : Marglobe, Shillong selection –1,Vishali, Rocky, Mangala, Karnataka F1
* Peas : Krishnanagar, Bonneville, Early Wonder, Green pearls, Azad, Creeper, Arkel, Cherrapunjee
* Radish - Early : French breakfast, Sparkles; Late: Local selection
* Carrot : Early nantes , N.S 820
* Beetroot : Detroit dark red, Improved black, Red crimson globe

The area, production and productivity in the vegetable sector has been showing an upward trend through the years. The computed Annual Growth Rate of vegetables for the period 1990-91 to 2000-01 showed a significant positive trend in area and production with respect to cole crops, carrot, tomato and radish.

Tomato cultivation has become a special feature in the Umsning-Nongpoh belt where the farmers of this region are growing tomatoes in both the Kharif and Rabi seasons. Recently, tomato cultivation has been introduced in the high altitude regions of East Khasi Hills. It was initially felt that tomato could not be cultivated during summer months in the high altitude regions due to heavy blight infestation. However, formulation of a spray schedule has been successful in controlling the disease. Cultivation of tomato has spread to different parts of the district in the higher regions; primarily due to high rate of returns derived from tomato cultivation harvested during the off-season from June to October when tomato from other neighbouring States are not available.

The Department is taking steps to accelerate the growth of the vegetable sector by encouraging the farmers to grow vegetables in polyhouses by providing subsidy on the cost of such houses. Vegetable production under polyhouses is expected to double the productivity. Also special efforts are being made to extend vegetable cultivation in and around administrative headquarters to meet the increasing demand for vegetables at these centres.

The agro-climatic conditions in Meghalaya is favourable for the cultivation of vegetables throughout the year. This advantage is reflected in good prices fetched by vegetables during the off-season in neighbouring States. On the whole, the revenue returns from vegetables tend to be higher than that from cereals. Moreover, they can be grown in homesteads or on gentle slopes near the homesteads, facilitating the farmers to pay full attention to their care and maintenance regime.