Only two small-scale industries, 426 tiny industries and 181 artisan-based industries are registered in this District. Ashok Paper Mill at Hayaghat which was sick for the last 18 years has been restarted on 16 Aug'2000.The two sugar mills in the area at Raiyam and Sakri are sick. Most of the rice mills are not functional. However, Mithila and Sita flourmills are in working condition. Though the district is famous for Mango and Makahana production, there are no processing industries for these products.
There is Darbhanga Industrial Area Development Authority with its office at Bela, Darbhanga. It looks after the different aspiring small/tiny industries in the area, which includes mainly of iron & steel works, printing, utensils, furniture, hosiery, washing powder, mashala, etc. However, the industrial area needs up gradation in terms of drainage, roads, electricity & pollution control measures. There is also a proposal for the construction of a Growth Centre. Absence of industries has led to the migration of labourers to other states.
Dense population, low literacy level, traditional cropping pattern, absence of big and small industries and the resultant migration of man power has led to weak state of economy of the district. The per capita income of the people in the district is 4272. Darbhanga is badly poor in the matter of industrialization. Besides the Ashok Paper Mill at Hayaghat, the two Sugar & Flour Mills are the only important industries. However, blanket weaving, bangle making, pottery & mats-basket making have survived from old times. Following table shows the economic census of the district.
| Number of Enterprises (Based on 4th Economic Survey) | |||||||||||||
| Name of Block | No. Of Enterprises | Agriculture Workers | Non-Agriculture Worker | Enterprises with greater financeial resources | |||||||||
| Agricul- tural |
Non-Agri- cultural |
Private | Without Power | Without Premises | Thru the year | Adult Male | Adult Female | Total | Adult Male | Adult Female | Total | Number | |
| DBG | 51 | 1,404 | 1,287 | 995 | 216 | 1,369 | 65 | 07 | 72 | 2,219 | 333 | 2,552 | 20 |
| BDP | 75 | 1,330 | 1,267 | 975 | 368 | 1,217 | 110 | 123 | 233 | 1,483 | 338 | 1,821 | 4 |
| BAH | 47 | 1,997 | 1,798 | 1,677 | 365 | 2,006 | 58 | 19 | 77 | 3,365 | 378 | 3,743 | 32 |
| JALE | 156 | 2,025 | 2,019 | 2,127 | 458 | 2,181 | 156 | 0 | 156 | 2,843 | 128 | 2,971 | 73 |
| KET | 55 | 2,159 | 1,978 | 1,801 | 487 | 2,175 | 69 | 20 | 89 | 3,694 | 424 | 4,118 | 42 |
| SING | 134 | 2,298 | 2,237 | 1,756 | 763 | 2,215 | 188 | 6 | 194 | 3,136 | 405 | 3,541 | 76 |
| HYT | 370 | 2,280 | 2,476 | 1,948 | 922 | 2,361 | 423 | 45 | 468 | 3,719 | 728 | 4,447 | 74 |
| MAN | 97 | 419 | 315 | 300 | 73 | 383 | 124 | 19 | 143 | 624 | 48 | 672 | 32 |
| BEN | 304 | 1,985 | 1,994 | 1,835 | 745 | 2,015 | 355 | 12 | 367 | 3,765 | 455 | 4,220 | 32 |
| BIR | 79 | 1,594 | 1,540 | 1,286 | 738 | 1,673 | 79 | 06 | 85 | 2,624 | 393 | 3,017 | 5 |
| GHP | 24 | 588 | 560 | 537 | 94 | 612 | 24 | 0 | 24 | 746 | 24 | 770 | 0 |
| ALI | 25 | 1,405 | 1,385 | 1,388 | 451 | 1,430 | 25 | 11 | 36 | 1,634 | 76 | 1,710 | 28 |
| KIR | 0 | 256 | 211 | 203 | 20 | 256 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 327 | 6 | 333 | 0 |
| GAU | 0 | 570 | 510 | 444 | 0 | 570 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 651 | 16 | 667 | 0 |
| KUS | 15 | 569 | 481 | 441 | 75 | 566 | 55 | 0 | 55 | 601 | 35 | 636 | 2 |
| KUS (E) | 0 | 673 | 611 | 509 | 13 | 669 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1147 | 25 | 1,172 | 3 |
| Total | 1,432 | 21,552 | 20,669 | 18,222 | 5,688 | 21,698 | 1,731 | 268 | 2,009 | 32,578 | 3,812 | 36,390 | 423 |
In spite of lack of infrastructure like transport and communication, regular electric supply and other facilities with the help of District Industry center, Darbhanga some advancement has been made in this area. Apart from Madhubani Paintings and Sikki-Mauni craft some other crafts such as bamboo basket and other related craft with bamboo, Lah bangles wood craft etc. are gaining momentum in the rural house holds of this districts. Among these bangle industry is the most popular one. If better infrastructure and marketing facilities will be provided to the rural artisans there is vast scope in this area.
Bamboo Work
Darbhanga is greatly noted for its bamboo work. Bamboo sends itself to multifarious work. In fact the rural people in remote bamboo graving are as still keep their precious possessions in bamboo basket with side. A lot of house used things are made through bamboo like elegant furniture, complete table ware etc.
Clay Toys
Darbhanga has special clay toys. There is a special highly decorated elephant with clay ornaments on the head and over the ears and a big boul on its back. This is kept on the roof of the house when a marriage is taking place.
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NRC for Makhana is to be located on a sprawling campus of 25 acres at Basudeopur, Darbhanga(Bihar). Government of Bihar has initiated the process of transfer of the proposed site to ICAR for establishment of the NRC for Makhana, where an ultra modern R&D infrastructure complex will be constructed. Besides, two agricultural farms each measuring 25 acres, one at Jale (Madhubani) and other at Bharathi (Darbhanga), is to be made available by Government of Bihar for starting a Krishi Vigyan Kendra and on-farm Research Centre.
Presently the Centre is functioning from its camp office located at Central Potato Research Station, Near Civil Aerodrome, Patna.
Head quarter of the Centre will soon be commissioned at the European Guest House Building in the Campus of L.N.Mithila University, Darbhanga.
Genesis
The National Research Centre for Makhana, Darbhanga (Bihar) under Indian Council of Agriculture Research was sanctioned by the Department of Agriculture Research & Education, Government of India, as a new scheme during the IX Five Year Plan period for conservation, research & development of the Makhana crop.
The NRC for Makhana came into existence on National Science Day 28th February 2002 with setting up of a camp office at the Central Potato Research station, Patna, from where it is presently striving to address multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary researchable issues of Makhana.
The unique, nutritive, organic food crop of wetlands, extensively grown in India is unexploited and under-utilized, having immense potential of growth, development and export. NRC for Makhana is working to develop technologies relevant to prevailing biophysical and socio-economical environment of the Makhana growing regions of our country.
It envisages to be a National Centre of Excellence with state of the art research facilities for meeting the agriculture challenges in post WTO scenario as emphasized in ICAR Vision 2020.
Mission
To explore & develop economic opportunities in aquatic agriculture, natural & community resources through innovative research & development programmed on Makhana that benefit the people involved in Makhana cultivation, post harvest, processing, marketing, export & consumption.
Mandate
To conduct basic, strategic, applied and adaptive research for increasing productivity, ensuring sustainability, enhancing profitability of Makhana crop.
To develop and standardize the post harvest, processing and value adding technologies.
To facilitate and promote co-ordination and dissemination of appropriate agricultural technologies through network/consortia approach involving all stake holders in Makhana.
To serve as a repository of the agro-eco-bio-aqua diversity and scientific information/ITK on Makhana.
To provide consultancy & advisory support for promoting Makhana based industries.
To collaborate with various National and International agencies in liaisons with State and Central Government for achieving the mission of NRC.
Objective
The objectives of the centre is to generate appropriate agriculture technologies which can help in raising the economic status of poor Makhana growers (downtrodden fisherman community) through higher yield, more and better employment, value adding to the commodity, improving socio-economic condition, efficient marketing and imports.
Centre will conduct mission made basic and applied research for overall development of the wetland areas adopting total system approach through enhancing productivity of water. Special emphasis will be laid on minimizing drudgery of downtrodden especially women folks engaged in makhana popping.
About Makhana
Gorgon nut or Fox nut, an aquatic crop, commonly known as Makhana (Euryale ferox Salibs) of the Family Nymphaeaceae is an highly nutritious, fully organic non-cereal food, which is extensively grown in the stagnant water of wetlands, tanks, ponds lakes and ditches.
It is widely distributed in tropical and north tropical region. This aquatic/marsh plant with large floating leaves and beautiful solitary flowers is cultivated in the state of Bihar, West Bengal and Assam in abundance and to some extent in Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, Tripura and Manipur.
Bihar state accounts for over 80% of the Makhana production of the country. Madhubani, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, Saharsha,Katihar,Purnia, Samastipur,Supaul, Kishanganj and Araria Districts are major producer of Makhana.
The popped seeds of Makhana, roasted and eaten as well as used in preparation of various kind of delicious sweets and recipes. It contains 9.7% easily digestible protein, 76% carbohydrate, 12.8% moisture, 0.1% fat, 0.5% total minerals,0.9% phosphorus & 1.4%mg fe/100gm. It also contains useful medicinal properties.