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IndiAgri Bureau
West Bengal: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the 23rd installment of the PM-KISAN scheme from Hooghly district in West Bengal on June 20, transferring around ₹18,880 crore directly into the bank accounts of more than 9.44 crore farmers across the country.
The announcement was made by Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who said the event will also witness the launch of several agriculture, rural development, fisheries and railway projects aimed at accelerating growth in eastern India.
According to the Agriculture Ministry, more than 45.35 lakh farmers in West Bengal are expected to receive nearly ₹907 crore under the latest PM-KISAN installment. Since the scheme was launched in 2019, farmers in the state have received over ₹15,055 crore, while nationwide disbursements have crossed ₹4.46 lakh crore.
A major announcement expected during the programme is the launch of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and the restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme in West Bengal.
For 2026-27, the government aims to provide crop insurance coverage to around 1.10 crore farmers across 30 lakh hectares, bringing crops worth nearly ₹28,140 crore under insurance protection.
The Prime Minister will also launch an Agritech platform under the Digital Agriculture Mission in West Bengal. The platform is designed to integrate services such as fertiliser distribution, Kisan Credit Card access, Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) payments and MSP procurement into a single digital ecosystem.
Officials say the initiative will improve service delivery, transparency and market access for farmers.
Under the National Mission on Natural Farming, the state will establish 346 natural farming clusters covering 17,300 hectares during 2026-27.
The programme is expected to benefit more than 43,000 farmers through training, bio-input support and improved market linkages. The government also plans to strengthen village-level resource centres to promote wider adoption of natural farming practices.
Prime Minister Modi is also set to launch the PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana in Purulia, Darjeeling, Alipurduar and Jhargram districts.
The scheme focuses on increasing farm productivity, promoting crop diversification, strengthening storage and processing infrastructure and creating employment opportunities in rural areas.
In the rural development sector, 49 road projects worth over ₹213 crore under the PMGSY-III programme will be inaugurated. The projects cover more than 315 kilometres and are expected to improve connectivity between villages and urban centres.
The Prime Minister will also inaugurate upgraded fisheries infrastructure, including the modernised Fraserganj Fisheries Harbour in South 24 Parganas and a new fish market in Birbhum district. These projects are aimed at improving storage, marketing and export opportunities for the fisheries sector.
A Regional Semen Production Laboratory and Goat Semen Bank at Harinaghatta in Nadia district will also be inaugurated. Developed at a cost of more than ₹6 crore under the National Livestock Mission, the facility is being described as the first of its kind in eastern India.
The centre is expected to support scientific breeding programmes and improve livestock productivity, particularly in goat farming.
The June 20 event will also feature the inauguration and foundation laying of railway projects worth around ₹591 crore.
Among the key projects are:
The government says these projects will improve passenger services, freight movement and connectivity while supporting industrial growth and logistics development in the region.
The Centre views the June 20 programme as part of its broader strategy to strengthen agriculture, infrastructure and rural livelihoods in eastern India. With PM-KISAN payments, crop insurance expansion, digital agriculture initiatives and infrastructure investments being rolled out simultaneously, the event is expected to bring significant attention to West Bengal's agricultural and rural economy.
