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Industry
West Bengal is known for its position among the leading industrialized states
of India. There are over 10000 registered factories in the state and the state
government has opened 'Shilpa bandhu', a single window agency for providing
investors with all kinds of assistance in setting up and running industrial un its. Calcutta city is noted as a major centre for industries including the
jute
industry. There are a number of Steel plants in the state apart from the alloy steel
plant at Durgapur. The centre has set up a number of industries in the areas of
tea, sugar, chemicals and fertilizers. Good natural resources like tea and
jute in and near Bengal made West Bengal a major centre for the jute and tea
industries.
The manufacturing industries play a vital role in the economic life of the
state. Among the important industries, manufacture of shoes, medicine and
pharmaceuticals, weaving of cotton textiles, spinning and weaving of jute,
manufacture of fabricated metal products and structural metal products,
production of ice and Shulekha ink etc are worth mentioning.
Agriculture
Agriculture is the chief occupation of the people of the state. The Majority
of the population are cultivators and agricultural labours. Rice is the
Principal food crop of West Bengal. Other food crops include maize, pulses, oil
seeds, wheat, barley, potatoes and vegetables. The state supplies about 66% of
the jute requirements of the country and its soil and heavy rainfall are
suitable for jute cultivation. Tea is another important cash crop. Darjeeling
tea is famous for its high quality. Tobacco and sugarcane are also grown in the state.
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