District
Murshidabad is situated on the Eastern peripheral plains of the State of West Bengal and it is the Northern-most district of Presidency Division. It forms the Eastern international boundary of State bordering Bangladesh from 1947 when India became independent. River Padma creates the Northern and Eastern boundary, separating the district from the district Maldah to the North andRajshahi Division of Bangladesh to the East. Districts Burdwan and Nadia are in the Southern side and Birbhum and the Pakur (Jharkhand) are on the Western side of the District.
Murshidabad is in the middle of West Bengal lying between 24º50’20”N and 23º43’30”N latitude and 88º46’00”E and 87º49’17”E longitude. It has a total area of 5324 sq. km.(Figure 4.1).In shape, the district resembles an isosceles triangle with its apex pointing to the North-West.The district has 5 Sub-divisions, viz. BerhamporeSadar, Jangipur, Lalbag, Kandi &Domkal. There are 26 Community Development (C.D.) Blocks, 7 Municipalities and in the district . Berhamporeis the district headquarterof Murshidabad district.
BehramporeSadar Sub-division has got 5 C.D. Blocks namely, Beldanga-I, Beldanga-II, Berhampore, Hariharpara and Nawda with 2 Municipalities viz. Berhampore (M) and Beldanga (M). Jangipur Sub-division has got 7 C.D. Blocks namely, Farakka, Samserganj, Suti-I, Suti-II, Raghunathganj-I, Raghunathganj-II and Sagardighi with 2 Municipalities viz. Jangipur (M) and Dhulian (M). Lalbagh Sub-division has got 5 C.D. Blocks namely Lalgola, Bhagawangola-I, Bhagawangola-II, Murshidabad-Jiaganj and Nabagram with 2 Municipalities viz. Murshidabad (M) and Jiaganj-Azimganj (M). KandiSub-division has got 5 C.D. Blocks namely Kandi, Khargram, Burwan, Bharatpur-I and Bharatpur-II and 1 Municipality namely Kandi (M). Domkal Sub-division has got 4 C.D. Blocks namely Domkal, Jalangi, Raninagar-I, Raninagar-II.There are 27Police Stations (P.S.) in the district. 7P.S. are situated in BehramporeSadar Sub-division viz. Behrampore, Daulatabad, Hariharpara, Nowda, Beldanga and Rejinagar. 5 P.S. are situated in Jangipur Sub-division viz. Raghunathganj, Farakka, Sagardighi, Suti and Samserganj. 6 P.S. are situated in the Lalbag Sub-division viz. Murshidabad, Nabagram, Jiaganj, Bhagwangola, Ranitala and Lalgola. 5 P.S. are situated in Kandi Sub-division viz. Kandi, Khargram, Salar, Bharatpur and Burwan. 4 P.S. are situated in Domkal Sub-division viz. Domkal, Jalangi, Islampur and Raninagar.
Demography
According to the2011Census, Murshidabaddistrict encompasses a geographical area of 5324sq km and has a population of 71,03,807(persons) including 36,27,564 males and 34,76,243females.Themajority of the populationbelongsto MuslimCommunity with a population share of 66% followed by Hindu(33.21%).The highest sex ratio(female per thousand male)among the C.D. Blocks is observed in SamserganjC.D. Block with 1000and the lowest with 936is recorded in Murshidabad-JiaganjC.D. Block.
Topography & Terrain
Physiographically the entire district is belonging to plain region. The river Bhagirathi, flowing from north to south through the district, which divides it into two equal portions form a striking contrast to each other in their geology, their physical characteristic, their agriculture, and even the religion of their inhabitants. The Blocks Farakka, Samserganj, Suti-1, Suti-II, Raghunathganj-1, Nabagram, Khargram, Burwan, Kandi, Bharatpur-1, Bharatpur-Il, greater part of Sagardighi, western part of Murshidabad-Jiaganj, Berhampur and Beldanga fall in the western part while the rest of the Blocks are in the side of the eastern region.
Soil and rock patternThe Bhagirathi river divides the district into two almost equal portions; Eastern part Bagri and the Western part Radh. These two divisions except the South-Eastern portion are in sharp contrast so far as soil is concerned. The right portion is an alluvialtract formed by
Climate Condition
District Murshidabad belongs to humid tropical monsoon climatic region. According to District Meteorological Department,there are very minor variation of temperature, rainfall and relative humidity in all over the district viz. north to south and west to east.The climate of this district is characterized by an oppressive hot summer, high humidity nearly all the year round and a well distributed rainfall in the south west monsoon season. The year may be divided into four seasons. The cold season is from about the middle of November to the end of February. The period from March to May is the summer season. The south west monsoon season commences about the beginning of June and lasts till the end of September. October and the first half of November may be termed aspostmonsoon season.
Temperature
Temperature along with other meteorological conditions of the district is more or less uniform. The cold season commences by about the middle of November when the temperature begins to decrease.January is the coldest month with the mean daily maximum and minimum temperature at 28 ºC and 10ºC respectively. By about the end of February the temperature begins to increase and April is found as the hottest month, the mean maximum daily temperature is 38 ºC and the mean minimum daily temperature is 25ºC.
Rainfall
The average annual rainfall in the district is 1179.64mm. The variations in the annual rainfall within the district and from year to year are not large. The rainfall during the monsoon season –June to September –constitutes74 percent of the annual rainfall;July and August are the rainiest months.The district receives a mean annual rainfall varying from 815.7mm. to 1673.5mm.
Relative Humidity, Wind speed & Wind direction
Humidity is observed as high throughout the year, but in the summer months, March and April, the relative humidity is comparatively low, begins some 60 to 65 percent in the mornings and 35 to 40 percent in the afternoons. From May the humidity increases. Skies are moderately to heavily cloud in May. In the south-west monsoon season; the cloudiness increases and skies are mostly heavily clouded or overcast. From October the cloudiness decreases and in the next six months skies are clear or lightly clouded. Winds are generally light or moderate, with a slight increase in force in the summer seasons.
Cropping pattern
The economy of Murshidabad district is primarily based on agriculture. Cultivation constitutes the main source of livelihood for the people in the district.The line of low-lying area in the North upto the basin of the river Bhagirathi in the Nabagram Plain is very fertile and suitable for growing of paddy, wheat and gram etc. The Mayurakshi-Dwarka Plain is also very fertile and more suited for winter paddy crop. The climate here is drier than the Eastern tract and apart from paddy, wheat; gram, sugarcane, pulses, mustard are also cultivated in this region. Ganga-Bhagirathi Basin is actually a long and narrow strip of river-valley area and more suitable for cultivation of paddy, jute and other rabi crops. Paddy is the main crop of this region. Paddy is the principal crop of Jalangi-Bhagirathi interfluves also. Besides, potato, pulses and oilseeds are grown abundantly. Soil of Raninagar Plain is alluvial and fertile and very much suitable for cultivation of paddy, jute and other rabi crops. The principal agricultural crops of the district are Rice, Wheat, Pulses, Oilseeds, potato andjute.Sugarcane, Cabbage, Cauliflower and Brinjal are produced in considerable quantity throughout the district (Source: District census handbook 2011).The total cultivable land in the district amounts to 3,95,980 hectares. With the provision of good irrigation facilities, multiple crop cultivation has become feasible in certain areas of the district. In the district, the total irrigated area in the year 2013-2014 amounted to 2,20,090 hectares. The main sources of irrigation in the district are Government canals, deep and shallow tube wells along with river lift irrigation.