West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced a major relief package for the state’s farmers, including a Rs 50 per quintal subsidy for potato growers, an electricity subsidy for four lakh farmers and a special package for cultivators in three districts. The announcements were made at an event in Pursurah in Hooghly district on Thursday, 5 November 2026. The Chief Minister said the Bharatiya Janata Party government in West Bengal is committed to farmers’ welfare, and the package covers price support, transport, crop insurance, power and paddy procurement.
For potato growers, the government will give a transport subsidy of Rs 50 per quintal for potatoes sent to other states by road or rail, and farmers will be free to transport their produce outside the state without unnecessary restrictions. The government has also assured a price of Rs 1,120 per quintal тАФ if the market price falls below this level, the state will compensate farmers for the gap. This year, 4.75 lakh quintals of potatoes have already been purchased from 49 cold storages at Rs 950 per quintal. Potato cultivation will be brought under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), with the state government bearing the farmers’ share of the insurance premium. The government is also working to dispose of 27 lakh quintals of potatoes stored in cold storages by 30 November, a deadline that can be extended to 31 December. A special compensation package is being prepared for potato growers in the southern districts who suffered losses in the last crop.
On power, the state government is giving an electricity subsidy of Rs 2 per unit to four lakh farmers for agricultural use, a benefit that began in August and is being communicated to farmers through letters delivered by India Post. A special package has been promised for cultivators in Jhargram, Purulia and Alipurduar districts. For paddy, the Chief Minister announced a bonus of Rs 200 per quintal for farmers selling their paddy at government mandis, and said the procurement price would gradually be raised to Rs 3,100 per quintal. The government has also said it will roll out the ‘Bhorsha Karmasuchi’ programme in January.
The package also builds on the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), under which 46 lakh farmers in West Bengal receive benefits. PM-KISAN is one of the world’s largest direct benefit transfer schemes, giving Rs 6,000 a year in three equal instalments directly into farmers’ bank accounts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the 23rd instalment of the scheme, worth Rs 18,880 crore, in June, of which more than Rs 900 crore was for West Bengal’s beneficiaries. The state government is adding Rs 3,000 a year on top of the central assistance, so eligible farmers in West Bengal will receive Rs 9,000 a year in total. The Chief Minister said the additional Rs 3,000 was being transferred to eligible farmers’ bank accounts on 5 November.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much subsidy will potato farmers get? тАФ A transport subsidy of Rs 50 per quintal for potatoes sent to other states, plus a price assurance of Rs 1,120 per quintal.
2. Who gets the electricity subsidy? тАФ Four lakh farmers in West Bengal get a power subsidy of Rs 2 per unit for agricultural use.
3. Which districts get a special package? тАФ Jhargram, Purulia and Alipurduar districts have been promised a special package for cultivators.
4. How much do Bengal farmers get under PM-KISAN? тАФ Rs 6,000 a year from the Centre plus Rs 3,000 a year from the state government, a total of Rs 9,000 a year.
Next Action: West Bengal Investment Promotion Policy 2026: up to 120% assistance for industries: https://www.viksitharyana.com/english/west-bengal-investment-promotion-policy-2026-120-assistance/ (this link goes live when Post C is published тАФ verify it is live before relying on it)
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