Malda district is also spelt as Maldaha or Maldah. The Malda district is spread over an area of 3733 sq.km which covers 4.7 percent of states’ total area and is the home of 4.1 per cent states’ population. It is located between 24°40’20” and 25°32’8” N latitudes and 87°45’50” to 88°28’10” E longitudes. It is bounded by Murshidabad district in south and in north by Uttar Dinajpur district. On the east, the district is surrounded by Bangladesh, on the west by the state of Bihar, on the northeast by Dakshin Dinajpur district and, on the southwest by Jharkhand state.

As per the Census of India 2011, the population of the district is 3988845. Out of this male population is 2051541, which is around 51.43% of the total population, and  female population is 1937304, which is around 48.56% of the total population. The sex ratio is 94 females per 100 males. Moreover, there are 541660 people living in the urban areas, which is around 13.57%, and 3447185 people living in the rural areas, which is around 86.42% of the total population. The district headquarters is situated in English Bazar. There are two subdivisions, namely; Malda Sadar and Chanchal. There are 15 blocks, namely; Harishchandrapur-I, Harishchandrapur-II, Chanchal-I, Chanchal-II, Ratua-I, Ratua-II, Gazole, Bamongola, Habibpur, Old Malda, English Bazar, Manikchak, Kaliachak-I, Kaliachak-II, and Kaliachak-III. There are 1613 villages in the district.

Operational Area of the KVK

There are two KVKs in Malda district. The operation area of both the KVKs is demarked between them. Malda KVK under Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya has operational area in all the blocks of Chanchal sub-division and additional block of Manikchak from Malda Sadar sub-division. Therefore, Malda KVK conducts their programmes mainly in the blocks of Ratua – I and II, Chanchal – I and II, Harishchandrapur -I and II and Manikchak. The yellow marked portion shows the operational area of the KVK.

Agriculture in Malda district:

The economy of the Malda district is fundamentally agrarian, with agriculture forming the backbone of livelihoods for over 90% of the rural population. The Agriculture Census states an abundance of marginal and small farmers (comprise 95.6% cover 58.07% land) in the district that makes the district’s agriculture subsistence cum slow commercial. The major crops produced in the district are wheat, paddy, jute, rabi-crops, mangoes, and raw silk. The district is backward in infrastructural and capital accessibility. Physiographically, the district is divided into three zones. i.e., Tal, Barind and Diara. The Tal region is characterised as a lowlying area subject to inundation in every rainy season. The soil texture varies from loam to clay loam. The six blocks namely Harishchandrapur -I and II, Ratua – I and II, and Chanchal – I and II come under Tal region. The Barind region is comparatively high land with small water sources. The soil is heavy old alluvium ranging from clay to clay loam. The four blocks i.e., Gazole, Bamongola, Habibpur and Old Malda fall in the Barind region. The remaining five blocks include in the Diara region which has flat land on western side and has soil texture as sandy loam, clay loam, loam and silt loam.

Agriculture Parameters:

Monthly Average Rainfall (in mm) of Malda district

Monthly average temperature (°C) distribution of Malda district