Economy

Madhesh has an agrarian economy, and once it was among the top-five exporters of rice in the world.  However, due to the government’s ban on import of fertilisers and seeds from nearby India, lack of irrigation systems, and apathy of the government towards the issues of Madheshi farmers, its traditional agrarian base is dwindling and the society is becoming more and more dependent upon foreign remittances. Traditionally people used to go to various Indian states for work, mostly as farm labourers, but at recent times, some of them also go to the gulf and East Asian countries. There are some industries in Biratnagar and Birgunj area, but they are under the control of the northern ruling class people.