Business and Economy in Mirzapur

Mirzapur, as pinpointed by Planning Commission of Government of India, is among the 150 most disadvantaged districts of the country. Above 50 per cent of residents in the region falls below the poverty line and the state government is struggling hard to make the city a better place to live in. With the new tourism packages offered by the state government, Mirzapur is gradually earning a recognition among travellers for its natural and wildlife beauty. But the district still has a long way to go to earn itself a brownie for being the best habitable city in the state.


Most of Mirzapur’s revenue is earned through tourism, agriculture and small-scale industries. The district also receives fund from Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme. During colonial era, Mirzapur was famous for its cotton industries and stock holders, then known as arhatias. It was during mid-nineteenth century that the city found a new trading option – carpet weaving. The carpet industry, however, suffered a major setback during the twentieth century mainly because of poor dyeing and bad designing. Of late, the industry has once again revived itself from the debacle and is earning profits.

There are almost negligible irrigation resources for the agricultural lands in Mirzapur. The cultivable lands are rain-fed and, therefore, production of quality crops is minimal. Major cultivated crops in the area are rice, pigeon pea, chick pea, pearl millet and wheat. Other horticultural crops include potato and onions. Tribals in the region are largely dependent on forest economic resources like tendu leaf for making bidi, honey, fuel wood, mango, guava, neem, mahua, chiraunji and kattha. They are also dependent on cattle and fish marketing.


The agricultural industry is going through heavy losses as irregular rainfall and yearly droughts are thwarting the farmers to grow adequate as well as good quality crop. The region also has to go through seasonal cold wave, hot wave, hail storm and occasional pest and disease outbreak. All these factors have largely contributed to bad business and null economic growth in the region.

Mirzapur enjoys the company of large-scale industrial houses. The district, however, has a number of small and medium-scale industries that keep majority of the residents in the region employed. There is a little over 15 hectares allocated for industrial development in the region. Most of these are micro and small enterprises. There are over 1000 units on woollen, artificial and thread-based clothes. This unit provides employment to over 40,000 residents in Mirzapur. The next popular industry is the metal or steel-manufacturing industry having around 850 units and providing employment to around 4000 people. Other industries found in the region are jute based, wooden furniture, paper products, leather based, petrochemical based, mineral based and engineering units. Carpet industry is also doing brisk business in the region.


Mirzapur is also known for its brass and German silver utensils. There are about 300 functional units in the area. However, with no problem electricity and transport conveniences, business is dwindling in Mirzapur.

Tourism industry is perhaps the only thriving industry in the region with a steady growth in profits. The dams, waterfalls, temples and wildlife sanctuaries are currently some of the hottest destinations in India and the revenue of the region is largely dependent on sole hands.