banks. Agriculture “With its distinctive physiographic and agroclimatic features, the Dinajpur region has been a bread-basket area of Bengal for many centuries, growing multiple varieties of fine and coarse rice in vast quantities, along with major economic crops like jute. The livelihood profile of Uttar Dinajpur district has evolved in association with these old agricultural patterns, and more than two-thirds of its active workforce still draws livelihoods directly from agriculture and related occupations.” Agricultural potential has been uneven across Uttar Dinajpur based on soil conditions and irrigation potential. This has generated considerable internal migration within the district, as areas with higher agricultural potential and higher labour demand has attracted large number of people. The impact of land reforms has also varied. As the Islampur subdivision blocks evolved initially under the Bihar administration, the land estates were larger in size and the extent of land acquired under ceiling laws were higher. The cultivator population in Islampur subdivision was also thinner. Such conditions have been favourable for migrants. The movement of people from agricultural activities to non-agricultural activities has been low in Uttar Dinajpur district except for some pockets. Islampur CD Block had 139 fertiliser depots, 9 seed stores and 63 fair price shops in 2013–14. In 2013–14, Islampur CD Block produced 32,426 tonnes of Aman paddy, the main winter crop from 15,784 hectares, 4,753 tonnes of Boro paddy (spring crop) from 1,917 hectares, 7,072 tonnes of wheat from 3,748 hectares, 3,019 tonnes of maize from 1,240 hectares, 58,719 tonnes of jute from 4,566 hectares and 96,453 tonnes of potatoes from 2,730 hectares. It also produced maskalai and oilseeds. In 2013–14, the total area irrigated in Islampur CD Block was 742 hectares, out of which 450 hectares were irrigated by canal water, 12 hectares by river lift irrigation and 280 hectares by deep tube wells. Craft based activities “More than eleven hundred rural households across the district are engaged in traditional crafts based industries, among which dhokra, mat making, terracotta, village pottery and bamboo craft in the Goalpokhar-1 and Kaliaganj regions are notable.” Banking In 2012–13, Islampur CD Block had offices of 5 commercial banks and 2 gramin banks. Backward Regions Grant Fund Uttar Dinajpur district is listed as a backward region and receives financial support from the Backward Regions Grant Fund. The fund, created by the Government of India, is designed to redress regional imbalances in development. As of 2012, 272