While the urban center itself is commercial, the immediate periphery of Dibrugarh is fiercely agricultural. Tea (_Camellia sinensis_) is the undisputed king of local agriculture, cultivated on a massive, organized scale in sprawling estates that employ thousands of workers.
Beyond tea, local farmers grow paddy (rice) as the staple food crop during the monsoon season. Winter crops include mustard, potatoes, and various seasonal vegetables. The fertile alluvial soil along the Brahmaputra supports the cultivation of betel nut, bananas, and bamboo. Small-scale dairy farming and riverine fisheries also supplement the rural economy surrounding the city.