in excess of land ceiling was acquired and distributed amongst the peasants. Following land reforms land ownership pattern has undergone transformation. In 2013-14, persons engaged in agriculture in Murshidabad-Jiaganj CD block could be classified as follows: bargadars 3,766 (4.90%), patta (document) holders 5,690 (7.40%), small farmers (possessing land between 1 and 2 hectares) 4,040 (5.25%), marginal farmers (possessing land up to 1 hectare) 26,585 (34.57%) and agricultural labourers 36,829 (47.89%). Murshidabad-Jiaganj II CD block had 130 fertiliser depots, 3 seed stores and 41 fair price shops in 2013-14. In 2013-14, Murshidabad-Jiaganj CD block produced 671 tonnes of Aman paddy, the main winter crop from 307 hectares, 5,431 tonnes of Boro paddy (spring crop) from 1,691 hectares, 141 tonnes of Aus paddy (summer crop) from 75 hectares, 8,930 tonnes of wheat from 3,985 hectares, 31 tonnes of maize from 12 hectares, 91,177 tonnes of jute from 7,991 hectares and 9,499 tonnes of potatoes from 495 hectares. It also produced pulses and oilseeds. In 2013-14, the total area irrigated in Murshidabad-Jiaganj CD block was 9,889 hectares, out of which 150 hectares were irrigated with canal water, 2,500 hectares with tank water, 959 hectares with river lift irrigation, 920 hectares by deep tube well, 320 hectares with shallow tube well and 5,040 hectares by other means. Silk and handicrafts Murshidabad is famous for its silk industry since the Middle Ages. There are three distinct categories in this industry, namely (i) Mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing (ii) Peeling of raw silk (iii) Weaving of silk fabrics. Ivory carving is an important cottage industry from the era of the Nawabs. The main areas where this industry has flourished are Khagra and Jiaganj. 99% of ivory craft production is exported. In more recent years sandalwood etching has become more popular than ivory carving. Bell metal and Brass utensils are manufactured in large quantities at Khagra, Berhampore, Kandi and Jangipur. Beedi making has flourished in the Jangipur subdivision. Banking In 2013-14, Murshidabad-Jiaganj CD block had offices of 7 commercial banks and 1 gramin bank. Backward Regions Grant Fund Murshidabad 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 districts across the country were listed under this scheme. The list includes 11 districts of West Bengal. Transport Murshidabad-Jiaganj CD block