PM Modi rolls out major agriculture push for Bengal, 45 lakh farmers to get PM-Kisan benefits

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced a series of agriculture, infrastructure and rural development initiatives for West Bengal while participating in the Paschimbanga Divas celebrations at Tarakeswar in Hooghly district. The announcements included the rollout of key central agricultural schemes in the state, new railway infrastructure projects, fisheries development initiatives and the release of the latest instalment under the PM-Kisan income support scheme.

PM-Kisan instalment benefits over 45 lakh farmers in Bengal

During the event, Modi released the 23rd instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan), under which more than Rs 18,880 crore will be transferred to over 9.44 crore farmers across the country. According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB), more than Rs 900 crore will be credited to over 45 lakh beneficiaries in West Bengal. The cumulative PM-Kisan assistance disbursed in the state has now crossed Rs 15,000 crore. Since its launch in 2019, the scheme has transferred more than Rs 4.46 lakh crore to farmers nationwide.

Crop insurance scheme launched in Bengal

A key highlight of the programme was the launch of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) in West Bengal. The crop insurance scheme is expected to provide coverage to nearly 50 lakh farmers cultivating around 14 lakh hectares during 2026-27. Officials said the insured value of crops under the programme is estimated at around Rs 28,140 crore, offering financial protection against crop losses while reducing the burden on farmers through premium subsidies.

Digital agriculture and natural farming initiatives

The Prime Minister also launched AgriStack in West Bengal under the Digital Agriculture Mission. The platform aims to integrate agriculture-related services, including fertiliser distribution, Kisan Credit Cards, direct benefit transfers and procurement under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system.

In addition, the National Mission on Natural Farming was launched in the state. Under the 2026-27 action plan, West Bengal will establish 346 natural farming clusters covering 17,300 hectares and create bio-input resource centres to promote sustainable agricultural practices.

Rail and fisheries projects inaugurated

Modi inaugurated the modernised fishing harbour at Fraserganj in South 24 Parganas and a modern fish market at Sainthia in Birbhum district. He also dedicated and laid foundation stones for railway projects worth around Rs 590 crore, including the Sankrail-Santragachi link line project, a new 300-bed divisional railway hospital at Howrah and a road overbridge in Purba Medinipur district.

The Prime Minister further inaugurated 49 road projects under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, covering more than 315 kilometres across West Bengal.