Economics of Mat Sticks Cultivation and Mat Industry: A Study in Sabong Block of Paschim Medinipur District of West Bengal

Mat industry is one of the most prominent rural handicrafts surviving and even expanding in some parts of West Bengal including Paschim Medinipur district in the era of globalization. This phenomenon may be explained with reference to Sabong block of this industry by high profitability, labour intensity, wide variety of products produced and high participation of female workers in this industry. Per capita land, heredity, numbers of female workers per household and per capita income explain significantly the household participation in matstick cultivation and mat industry