Kolkata, 19 September (H.S.): In the wake of devastating floods and natural disasters across West Bengal, the state government has announced that supporting hardworking farmers remains its foremost priority.

In a statement shared on X on Saturday morning, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari affirmed that the administration stands firmly behind the farming community with comprehensive assistance. Taking a swipe at the previous regime, he stated that the Mamata Banerjee government had halted farmer enrollments under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) during 2019-20, depriving the state's cultivators of vital financial safeguards for years. However, following the assumption of office by the new government, the crop insurance scheme was promptly reinstated with top priority.

The Chief Minister noted that the initial phase of enrollment under the new administration has received an overwhelming response from cultivators. Swift measures were instituted during the Kharif 2026 season to secure the financial stability of farmers affected by recent inundations. Through a streamlined and systematic drive, a total of 3.2 million farmers were brought under insurance coverage by September 15, 2026, catapulting West Bengal to the second position nationwide in enrollment figures.

Adhikari highlighted that registration numbers in flood-hit districts have been particularly encouraging, with 723,000 farmers enrolled in Purba Medinipur, 473,000 in Paschim Medinipur, 168,000 in Hooghly, and 42,000 in Jhargram. To facilitate access for affected cultivators, dedicated camps were conducted across every gram panchayat from August through September 15, expediting their inclusion under insurance protection and smoothing the path for compensation claims.

To alleviate the financial burden on cultivators, the state government is subsidizing the vast majority of the insurance premium directly from its budget. Under the revised framework, farmers holding up to one hectare (2.50 acres) of agricultural land pay merely a token amount of one rupee. For landholdings between one and two hectares, cultivators are charged a nominal fee of 100 rupees per acre, while the entire balance of the premium is disbursed directly by the state exchequer.

The Chief Minister added that strict instructions have been issued to insurance providers to expedite and finalize mid-season adversity assessments, ensuring that relief reaches flood-affected farmers from August 2026 without delay. Furthermore, the enrollment deadline for loanee farmers through banking channels has been extended to September 30, 2026, which is anticipated to further elevate total registrations. Reaffirming his dedication, Adhikari emphasized that the farming community is the state's core strength and inspiration, reiterating the government's steadfast commitment to protecting their crops and securing their rightful entitlements.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh