Agriculture is the leading occupation in West Bengal. Rice is the state`s principal food crop. Other food crops are maize, pulses, oil seeds, wheat, barley, potatoes and vegetables. Jute is the main cash crop of the region. Tea is also produced commercially; the region is well known for Darjeeling tea and other high quality teas. Tobacco and sugarcane are also grown. However, the Tertiary sector of the industry is the largest contributor to the gross domestic product of the state, contributing 51% of the state domestic product compared to 27% from agriculture and 22% from industry. State industries are localized in the Kolkata region and the mineral-rich western highlands.
Durgapur-Asansol colliery belt is home to a number of major steel plants. Manufacturing industries playing an important economic role are engineering products, electronics, electrical equipment, cables, steel, leather, textiles, jewellery, frigates, automobiles, railway coaches, and wagons. West Bengal has the third largest economy in 2003-2004 in India, with a net state domestic product of 21.5 billion US $. During 2001-2002, the state`s average SDP was more than 7.8% outperforming the National GDP Growth.
Kolkata is becoming a major hub for the Information technology (IT) industry. Owing to the boom in Kolkata and the overall state`s economy, West Bengal is now the third fastest growing economy in the country.
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