Nadia, being denied of the essential economic resources and effective infrastructure has its economy solely agriculture -based. New alluvium and the plenty of underground water have enhanced agriculture in Nadia. The economic development of Nadia is accentuated by cultivation of seasonal field crops.
Nearly all the important crops have a profitable growth here because the farmers are progressive enough to adopt new technologies and scientific methods to stimulate the agricultural prosperity, thereby inducing the economic developments in Nadia.
About 2,72,135 hectares of land are cultivated, however the conversion of the agricultural lands for the construction of houses recently is hazardous to the economy of Nadia. Since agriculture is the backbone of economy, threat to agriculture would result in economical menace.
The food grain production in the year 1976-77 was 5,13,540 metric tonne. Right from that time Nadia was the largest exporter of food grains to the neighboring districts. In 2000-01, the total production of food grains has been sufficiently increased to 9,42,601. The Government has now become operative to handle the situation. The co- operative market, all been set up by the state government initiate the effective marketing of the surplus production after their proper utilization. A large section of rural population draws their incomes from the agricultural sectors. The food crops thus serve the local economy of Nadia properly. Moreover the export of food crops provides a significant portion of Nadia`s economy.
Vegetable production no less shares an important part in supporting the financial system of Nadia. The vegetable production of 1,20,000 metric tones in the year of 1976-77 has recorded a thriving prosperity because of its demand and presently the total vegetable production is 12,50,182 metric tonne. Unlike the food crops, the vegetables support the fiscal set up of Nadia largely by export.
The partition of Bengal has impeded the jute production in West Bengal. Hence the areas in West Bengal including Nadia, which prospered in jute production has suffered a lot. In the following years when the market of jute goes down, the economic status of Nadia, once an important jute producer was hampered greatly. However with several endeavors put forward by the government to fight out the miserable state of the jute production here. In 2001-02, the jute production was recorded to 17,02,760 bales, which is desirably higher than the other district in West Bengal. Emphasis has been provided to increase the productivity of jute, so that it can be helpful enough to serve the economy of Nadia.
The industries to some extent demand a share in the economic scenario of Nadia. The lack of important minerals and the efficient infrastructure hinders the growth of traditional mineral based heavy industries in Nadia. The agricultural products supplies the staple resources for the industries, hence the agro-based industries earn prominence in Nadia. The food packing and the food processing industries are the principal sectors and involve a large quantity of rural workforce. Agriculture and the food processing industries are almost inseparable because before the marketing of the cultivated products, those are needed to be processed and packed.
Presently with the augmentation of the jute production, several diversified industries centering the jute industries have sprung up. These industries, providing employment to a bulk of local people, prepares the raw jute ready for marketing.
Handloom industries hold a significant position in Nadia. The handloom industry plays the key-role in shaping the socio-economic life of Nadia. The joint venture of the state and the Central Government in the form of financial and the technical assistance accentuate the growth rate of the handloom products. The Shantipuri Tant, Fulia Tant etc are the brand names of the handloom products and extremely in demand in the national market. The weavers now engaged in the value added fabrics, thus penetrated in the global economy also. Consequentially Nadia attain status in the fields of national and international market economy. Moreover the government has oriented several projects like schemes for better training of the weavers, the upgradation of the looms, providing seed capital to stimulate the growth of the handloom industry and thereby the financial standard of economy on a desired stratum.
Apart from these, the other small-scale industries like tarpaulin, film-making, pipes and tubes making and the cabinets for electronic and computer peripherals, alum, color concentrates and the color compound for textile industries have been operating with equal importance in the financial scenario of Nadia.
The agro-based industries though do not participate directly in the export-import transactions, but prepare the agricultural products ready for export and thus engaged in the mainstream economy of Nadia. Moreover these industries serve the local fiscal set up by involving an ample quantity of native workforce.
