BULDHANA

Buldhana district has a growing industrial sector alongside its dominant agricultural economy. With well-developed infrastructure, including road networks and 24/7 electricity, the district hosts key industrial zones like Khamgaon MIDC, Buldhana MIDC, Malkapur MIDC, Chikhli MIDC, and the Mehkar-Deulgaon Raja Industrial Area.

Buldhana district in Maharashtra has a growing chemical manufacturing industry, covering water treatment, chemical insecticides, and industrial chemicals. The district also houses manufacturers producing chemical insecticides for agriculture and essential industrial chemicals like sodium fluoborate and phenylalanine methyl ester.

Buldhana district has a well-established cotton weaving industry, driven by fertile black soil ideal for cotton cultivation. With around 50 ginning and pressing factories, the district ensures a steady supply of raw materials for textile production.

The 1976 Buldhana Gazetteer states that cottage industries were crucial for Buldhana’s economy, offering jobs to different communities. Some notable cottage industries in Buldhana included:

According to the Buldhana Gazetteer, 1976, carpentry was a prominent occupation in the district, with artisans engaged in woodworking, furniture repairs, and the manufacture of agricultural implements. Carpenters also produced doors, door frames, and other structural components for buildings.

Pottery making was an integral part of the village economy, with artisans often operating under the traditional baluta system, wherein they received a fixed share of food grains at harvest in exchange for providing earthenware to the community. Village potters primarily crafted traditional items like gadgis, madkis, ranjans, and thalis.

Blacksmiths in the district traditionally belonged to the Jingar, Lohar, Jirayats, Panchal, and Ghisadi castes. Their work was primarily centered around producing and repairing agricultural implements using imported iron.

Bamboo and cane craftsmanship was a specialized industry requiring significant skill. Artisans, primarily from the Burud and Mang communities, engaged in weaving bamboo strips to produce baskets and other items.

Dyeing was a hereditary occupation traditionally practiced by Rangaris, Ataris, and, to a lesser extent, Kolis. The craft was widespread in Nandura, Deulgaon Raja, Pimpalgaon Raja, Paturda, Wankhed, and Wadgaon.

The Buldhana Gazetteer, 1976, notes that earlier, dyes were locally produced, but the introduction of alkaline dyes had gradually replaced this practice, diminishing its profitability. The dyeing profession involved two modes of operation; some artisans worked on cloth provided by customers, while others purchased raw fabric, dyed it, and sold the finished products. However, by this period, the industry had experienced a decline in significance, and the earnings of the artisans had considerably decreased.