West Bengal to provide Rs 50 per quintal transport subsidy for potato farmers
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced transport aid, insurance support, and electricity subsidies for farmers during an event in Hooghly.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced on Thursday that potato farmers in the state will receive a transport subsidy of Rs 50 per quintal. Speaking at an event in Pursurah, Hooghly, Adhikari said the subsidy applies to potatoes transported by road or rail to other states.
According to reports from Urban Acres and ThePrint, the government will also provide crop insurance under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, with the state paying the farmers' share of the premium. Adhikari stated that potato farmers will be given free-bond certificates worth Rs 1,120 per quintal and the government will compensate them if market prices fall below this level.
The Chief Minister alleged that the previous Mamata Banerjee administration used oral instructions to stop potato-laden vehicles at state borders, preventing sales in Bihar, Assam, and Uttar Pradesh. He said the current government has directed that such vehicles should not be detained at borders.
Adhikari also announced an electricity subsidy of Rs 2 per unit for four lakh farmers. He noted that more than 46 lakh farmers in the state will receive benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), claiming farmers will now receive Rs 9,000 instead of Rs 6,000.
Regarding infrastructure, the government has allocated Rs 150 crore for the Math Mandi project to set up solar-powered facilities at 50 market yards. The state also plans to declare all cold storages as market yards under agricultural produce marketing laws to improve coordination.
Last season, West Bengal produced 140 lakh metric tonnes of potatoes, with 75 lakh metric tonnes stored in cold storages. The remaining 27 lakh metric tonnes must be removed from storage by November 30, though the deadline may be extended to December 31.