 Birbhum is primarily an agricultural district with around 75 % of the people dependent on agriculture. While 159.3 km2 (61.5 sq mi) of land is occupied by forests, 3,329.05 km2 (1,285.35 sq mi) of land is used for agricultural purposes. 91.02 % of the population live in villages. Out of total 4,50,313 farmers (holding 3,20,610 hectares of land), 3,59,404 are marginal farmers (holding 1,41,813 hectares altogether), 63,374 are small farmers (holding 95,144 hectares altogether), 26,236 are semi-medium farmers (holding 76,998 hectares altogether), 1,290 are medium farmers (holding 6,215 hectare altogether), and 9 are large farmers (holding 440 hectares of land). The average size of land holding per farmer is 0.71 hectares. 6,07,172 people work as agricultural labourers in Birbhum. Major crops produced in the district include rice, legumes, wheat, corn (maize), potatoes and sugar cane. The district has thirteen cold storages. Land with irrigation facilities in 2001-02 totalled 2,763.9 km2 (1,067.1 sq mi). There are five barrages, providing irrigation support. Canada Dam on the Mayurakshi river at Massanjore lies close to the border of Birbhum and the Dumka district in Jharkhand. Further down the Mayurakshi is the Tilpara Barrage at Suri.
