Last Updated on July 14, 2026 10:06 pm by BIZNAMA NEWS
S MOIN / KOLKATA
A roadmap for the development of agriculture based on weather and soil is being developed in West Bengal, said Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
The Minister, while attending a meeting at the state secretariat, Nabanna today, said that agriculture universities, research institutes, and the state government of West Bengal are jointly working for the development of the roadmap. Mr Chouhan said that training and research institutes for potato and jute seeds will come up in four places in West Bengal, including Chinsurah and Malda.
He credited the state government for its excellent work in the creation of digital identity cards for the farmers and for the successful implementation of various central schemes, including PM Fasal Bima Yojana.
Addressing a joint press conference, Chouhan said a developed West Bengal is essential to achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat and Aatmanirbhar Bharat. He said the Centre and the state government would work together to accelerate development across sectors.
The minister said 19 major infrastructure projects worth over ₹82,000 crore in roads, railways, metro, petroleum and natural gas, coal and labour were reviewed. He said bottlenecks related to land acquisition, rehabilitation, forest clearances, utility shifting and inter-departmental coordination would be resolved through time-bound action to expedite project implementation.
He also proposed the creation of a State-level Project Monitoring Group (PMG) to strengthen coordination and fast-track infrastructure projects, similar to the Centre’s PRAGATI mechanism.
On rural development, Chouhan announced that the Centre has approved ₹8,508 crore for West Bengal. Including the state’s contribution, more than ₹12,064 crore will be available for Panchayats until March 31 to support employment generation and rural development.
He said the government aims to increase rural employment opportunities from 100 days to 125 days under the new VB-G RAM G framework, which came into force on July 1. The framework will focus on creating durable rural assets such as roads, ponds, irrigation facilities, schools and Anganwadi buildings.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), Chouhan announced interim approval for one lakh rural houses in West Bengal. He said the deadline for beneficiary surveys has been extended to August 15 due to heavy rainfall, while directing officials to complete verification and begin allotments without delay.
The minister also announced a ₹295 crore support package for women’s Self-Help Groups under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana, comprising ₹245 crore in bank credit and ₹50 crore under the Community Investment Fund to promote rural entrepreneurship and livelihood generation.
In the agriculture sector, Chouhan said Malda will be integrated into the national Clean Plant Programme, with a proposed facility to produce disease-free planting material for mango, litchi and other fruit crops. He added that financial assistance of up to ₹3 crore for large nurseries and ₹1.5 crore for medium-sized nurseries will support the programme.
He also announced projects to strengthen rice, maize and orchid value chains, while stating that West Bengal would be developed as the Seed Hub of Eastern India. Memorandums of Understanding have already been signed with the state government for potato seed, hybrid maize seed and other crop seed production.
Chouhan said the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), state agricultural universities and scientists are jointly preparing a scientific agriculture roadmap for West Bengal based on agro-climatic conditions, soil characteristics and water availability. He added that efforts are underway to develop rice research institutions into Centres of Excellence.
Additionally, the Union Minister announced the expansion of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and Kisan Credit Card (KCC) coverage in the state. Village-level camps will be organised in collaboration with NABARD and banks to improve farmers’ access to institutional credit and reduce dependence on informal lenders.
Further, Chouhan said the Centre would work closely with the West Bengal government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to accelerate the state’s development and help it emerge as one of India’s leading growth engines.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, state Agriculture Minister Dudh Kumar Mondal, state Panchayat Minister Dilip Ghosh, and other dignitaries and officials were present at the meeting.