Jabalpur district with River Narmada bringing in fresh water from the Vindyachal Ranges has developed into an agrarian economy. The land of the Narmada basin with its fertile alluvial soil gives good yields of sorghum, wheat, rice and millets in the villages around Jabalpur. The State of Madhya Pradesh is the largest producer of Soybeans and the district of Jabalpur occupies a place of pride in agriculture production.
Important among commercial crops are pulses, oilseeds, cotton, sugar cane and medicinal crops. The state is poised for a breakthrough in soybean cultivation. In the state Kharif crops occupy 60% and Rabi crops 40% area with 71.4% area under food grain production. Nearly 59% of landholders are marginal whereas small farmers share 18% of farmland. Low literacy (35.45%), undulating topography, large waste land (13.2%), under developed irrigation potential (23%), low ground water utilization, large proportion of rain fed agriculture (75%), practice of Kharif fallows (3.6%), low cropping intensity (131%), low fertilizer consumption (50 kg/ha), high proportion of low value crops, and high population of low productive live stock are the major constraints of the state.
Jabalpur has a variety of Industries too. Most of these have their bases in mineral substances of economic value found in the district. Ready-made garments industry is one of the most popular and profitable business in Jabalpur. Bidi manufacturing, lime stone related industries, Electrical goods, Saw mills, Food Processing Industries are the major business areas in this region. Some other industries are Telephone Parts, Furniture, Building Materials, Ammunitions and glassware.
The Defence establishments started in the early 20th century. Jabalpur has four Ordnance Factories. The Gun Carriage Factory was started in the year 1904 well equipped and manufacture gun parts, mounting, shells and a variety of the other product for war purpose. Vehicle Factory Jabalpur (VFJ) was started as manufacturer of trucks named SHAKTIMANN. Other two are Grey Iron Foundry (GIF) and Ordnance Factory Khamaria (OFK).
Armed forces make a large portion of the city and economy in this city. City has three regimental centres, Grenadiers, Jammu and Kashmir rifles and the Signals regiment.
Jabalpur also has Head quarter of Madhya Pradesh State Electricity Board, Homeguards and many other State and Central Government Offices. Telcom Factory, Telcom Training Centre, Survey of India are some important offices.
- Revenue Layout
Jabalpur is an important Divisional Headquarters having 8 districts namely Jabalpur, Seoni, Mandla, Chhindwara, Narsimhapur, Katni, Dindori,Balaghat. The Jabalpur District has been reconstituted on May 25, 1998. It now has four tehsils Jabalpur, Sihora, Patan and Kundam.
There are 7 Blocks in the district with 1449 inhabited villages, 60 uninhabited, 1209 revenue villages and 4 forest villages.
