Chhattisgarh is chiefly agricultural and at one time was famed as "rice bowl of India" (Dhan ka katora). The town and its surrounding villages have a predominance of paddy cultivation. With a network of irrigation canals developed through various tank irrigation projects, and other minor irrigation schemes, the corresponding increase in marketable surplus has given impetus to trade and commerce in the region. Forest products, pulse and oil industries, saw industries, furniture, tobacco quid industries, silk and kosa textile mills, mineral extraction factories, dairy industries, cement industries, fish nourishing and handicrafts are the occupation of the people. Timber, firewood, bamboos and tendu leaves are the principal forest products in the district, which is exported while, other consumable goods namely oil seeds, lakh drugs and medicines are imported.