Subsidy and Free Crop Insurance Announced for Potato Farmers

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced electricity subsidies, free crop insurance, and transport subsidies for potato farmers. Additionally, he presented plans for price support for potato producers, solar-powered cold storage, and the establishment of model markets. Adhikari also promised financial assistance to educated unemployed youth.

Speaking during a programme organised in Pursurah of Hooghly district, the Chief Minister stated that over 46 lakh farmers in the state will benefit under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi. He further added that the state government is providing an electricity subsidy of ₹2 per unit to 4 lakh farmers. Following the change in government in West Bengal, the Adhikari administration decided to rename the previous Trinamool Congress government's Krishak Bandhu scheme as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi.

Under the Central Government's PM-Kisan scheme, farmer families across the country receive ₹6,000 annually in three equal instalments directly into their bank accounts. In June, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the 23rd instalment worth ₹18,880 crore, of which over ₹900 crore was for beneficiaries in West Bengal. On Thursday, funds under this scheme were transferred to the bank accounts of over 46 lakh farmers. Adhikari said, "The state's farmers will now receive ₹9,000 instead of ₹6,000; this is the benefit of the double-engine government."

Addressing the problems of potato farmers, the Chief Minister alleged that potato farmers faced harassment during the tenure of the Mamata Banerjee government. He stated that farmers were put through great difficulties via police directives and trucks carrying potatoes were stopped at state borders. Adhikari said, "To resolve the long-standing problems of potato farmers, we have decided to remove all restrictions on the transport of produce from West Bengal to other states. No vehicle carrying potatoes will be stopped at the state borders."

The government further announced that a transport subsidy of ₹50 per quintal will be provided for potatoes transported to other states by road or rail. Adhikari stated that potato farmers will be given free-bond certificates valued at ₹1,120 per quintal. If market prices fall below this level, the government will compensate farmers for the difference through subsidies. The previous Trinamool Congress government had primarily imposed restrictions on the supply of potatoes to other states to control rising prices, which led traders to start an indefinite strike and allege police harassment.

For the development of agriculture, the government has allocated ₹150 crore to set up modern, solar-powered cold storage in 50 farmer markets. Under the Smart Mandi initiative, there is a plan to develop 50 model markets, for which ₹3 crore has been allocated for each market. Adhikari further stated that potato cultivation will be brought under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, where the government will bear the farmers' share of the insurance premium, and farmers will not have to pay anything for insurance. A special package was also promised for farmers of Alipurduar, Jhargram, and Purulia districts.

Suvendu Adhikari is the Chief Minister of West Bengal.