In 1901, the main activities were wood-carving industry, salpetre works and grain trade. The district exported grain, sugar, hides, tobacco and salpetre.
Agriculture
Agriculture is the main activity in the district and many people depend on it. 3980.45 km2 of Hardoi district are devoted to agriculture. The main crops are paddy, sugarcane, wheat,vegetables, pulses and oilseeds. A small proportion of the total cultivated are is used for horticulture: guava, mangos, some herbs, etc. Irrigation is made possible by the presence of the Hardoi and Lucknow branches of the Sarda Canal.
Industry
Generally people of the district depends upon the Agriculture based economy. At present the important industries of Hardoi district are as follows.
M/s Transport Group (Shiva Transport), Hardoi
M/s Prakash Gun House (Lead suppliers of Arms And Ammuniations), Hardoi
M/S TIWARI GUN HOUSE,Cinema road(one of the leading dealer,estb1975) * M/s Jai Bharat Industries, Hardoi
M/s Saf Yeast Co. Ltd. Sandila
M/s Metal Wire Pvt. Limited Sandila
M/s Baba Gauri Shankar Floor Mill, Hardoi
M/s DSCL Sugar, unit Rupapur, Bharkhani, Hardoi
M/s DSCL Sugar, unit Hariyawan, Hardoi
M/s DSCL Sugar, unit Loni, Shahabad, Hardoi
M/s Engineers Group (P.K. Enterprises), Hardoi
M/S Sharad Electricals, Dharamshala Road, Hardoi. ESTD 1984
The major industry in the district is M/s Saf Yeast Co. Ltd. at Sandila tehsil of District Hardoi. The second plant of the company was established in 1990 in Sandila (the first plant was at Chiplun in Maharastra in year 1981) with the collaboration of France (the world's largest producers of yeast). This company is the single largest producer of yeast in India. The company—apart from producing baker's yeast—produces yeast for
