What are the main farmer schemes in West Bengal?

The two flagship schemes are Krishak Bandhu (annual income support plus a death benefit) and Bangla Shasya Bima (zero-premium crop insurance for Kharif and Rabi crops).

Can I be enrolled in both Krishak Bandhu and Bangla Shasya Bima?

Yes, the two schemes serve different purposes (routine income support versus crop-loss protection) and a farmer can typically be registered under both.

Do I have to pay any premium for Bangla Shasya Bima?

No, the entire insurance premium is paid by the West Bengal state government on behalf of the farmer, so enrolment is completely free.

Can I receive Krishak Bandhu along with the central PM-Kisan scheme?

Yes, in many cases, since the two schemes are administered separately by the state and central governments, eligible farmers can potentially receive both, subject to each scheme's own registration process.

How do I check my Krishak Bandhu payment status?

See the dedicated Krishak Bandhu Status Check guide for the full process using your Voter ID, Aadhaar number, or application ID.

How do I apply for Bangla Shasya Bima before the season starts?

See the dedicated Bangla Shasya Bima apply-online guide for step-by-step registration before the Kharif or Rabi enrolment window closes.

West Bengal Farmer Schemes 2026

What Are West Bengal's Farmer Schemes

The Government of West Bengal runs its farmer welfare programmes through the Department of Agriculture, focused on two core needs: steady income support for cultivation expenses, and protection against crop loss from natural calamities, pests, or disease. Together, these schemes form a safety net designed to reduce agricultural distress and keep small and marginal farmers, who make up the majority of West Bengal's farming population, financially stable through both good and bad growing seasons.

This page brings together the state's major farmer-focused schemes in one place, along with how they interact with each other and with central government programmes like PM-Kisan. Explore all Social Welfare Schemes operating across West Bengal for broader family safety nets.

Income Support Schemes

Krishak Bandhu Scheme: West Bengal's flagship farmer income-support scheme, launched in January 2019. Farmers owning one acre or more receive Rs. 10,000 per year (paid in two instalments for the Kharif and Rabi seasons), while those with less than one acre receive a minimum of Rs. 4,000 per year on a pro-rata basis. The scheme also provides a Rs. 2 lakh death benefit to the family of a registered farmer aged 18–60 who passes away. It covers close to 79 lakh farmers across the state.

Crop Insurance Schemes

Bangla Shasya Bima: A zero-premium crop insurance scheme launched in 2019, covering both Kharif and Rabi season crops against loss from mid-season adversity, prevented sowing, failed germination, standing crop damage, and post-harvest losses in specific cases. Unlike most insurance products, farmers pay no premium at all, the entire cost is borne by the West Bengal state government.

Apply for Bangla Shasya Bima online

How These Schemes Work Together

Krishak Bandhu and Bangla Shasya Bima are designed to complement each other rather than overlap:

Routine Cultivation vs. Emergency Security: Krishak Bandhu provides a predictable, twice-yearly cash transfer regardless of how the season actually turns out, helping farmers manage routine cultivation costs like seeds, fertiliser, and labour. Bangla Shasya Bima only pays out after a verified crop loss, acting as a safety net specifically for unexpected, season-disrupting events rather than a guaranteed annual payment.
Dual Enrolment Allowed: A farmer can typically be enrolled in both schemes simultaneously, since they serve different purposes and are administered through related but separate registration processes.
PM-Kisan Integration: West Bengal farmers can also potentially receive the central PM-Kisan scheme alongside Krishak Bandhu, since the two are run by different levels of government, some reports suggest eligible farmers could receive a combined total of around Rs. 16,000 per year across both schemes, though PM-Kisan has its own separate registration and eligibility process.

How to Apply for These Schemes

Cultivators can register for state agricultural schemes by following these steps:

Visit your nearest Agriculture Office (Krishi Praukti Sahayak office) or a government camp organised for farmer scheme enrolment in your district.
Register your land and cultivation details, since both Krishak Bandhu and Bangla Shasya Bima require valid land ownership (Khatian/Parcha) or cultivation/bargadar (sharecropper) records.
Link your Aadhaar to your bank account, as this is required for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) payments under both schemes.
Apply online through the scheme's dedicated portal: krishakbandhu.wb.gov.in for Krishak Bandhu, and banglashasyabima.net for Bangla Shasya Bima, or submit a paper form at your local agriculture office or bank.
Watch enrolment windows carefully: Bangla Shasya Bima registration is only open during a set period before each Kharif or Rabi season, while Krishak Bandhu accepts new registrations and updates on more of a rolling basis through local agriculture offices.

Krishak Bandhu Death Benefit Insurance Protocol (₹2 Lakh Assistance)

Beyond seasonal crop input assistance, Krishak Bandhu includes a comprehensive life assurance component for farming households across West Bengal:

Universal Coverage (Ages 18–60): In the unfortunate event of the death of a registered farmer or sharecropper aged between 18 and 60, the legal nominee receives a one-time ex-gratia grant of ₹2,00,000.
No Premium Cost: The entire insurance coverage premium is borne by the Department of Agriculture, requiring no annual premium payments from the farmer.
Claim Submission Timeline: Nominees must submit the official claim form along with the death certificate, land records, and Aadhaar copy to the Block Development Officer (BDO) or Assistant Director of Agriculture (ADA) within 30 days of death.

Crop Cutting Experiments and Satellite Remote Sensing

Bangla Shasya Bima relies on modern agricultural technology to calculate area-wide yield losses and release compensation without individual field friction:

Gram Panchayat Area Yield Assessment: Crop loss is evaluated at the Mouza or Gram Panchayat unit level using randomized Crop Cutting Experiments (CCE) conducted by agricultural officers.
Satellite NDVI Vegetation Index: In cases of widespread monsoon flooding or tropical cyclones (such as Remal or Amphan), satellite vegetation index maps from RSAC (Remote Sensing Application Centre) cross-verify field damage.
Direct Benefit Transfer to Bank Accounts: Verified claim amounts are credited electronically to Aadhaar-seeded single bank accounts via IFMS portal automation.

Role of Krishi Praukti Sahayaks (KPS) and Local Officers

Frontline agricultural extension officers play an essential role in guiding farmers through scheme registration and documentation:

Cultivation Verification for Bargadars: Krishi Praukti Sahayaks (KPS) issue official cultivation certificates for sharecroppers and tenant farmers lacking formal land Parcha titles.
e-POS and Portal Entry Support: Local KPS officers assist farmers with land area verification, crop code selection, and e-Kisan portal updates during seasonal enrolment drives.
Grievance Resolution: Farmers facing payment holds due to bank account mismatch can visit their Block Assistant Director of Agriculture (ADA) office for manual re-verification.

Farm Mechanization Subsidies and Equipment Custom Hiring Centers

To boost agricultural productivity and reduce manual labor costs, the Department of Agriculture provides financial subsidies for farm equipment purchases:

Financial Assistance for Farm Machinery (FOTA): Small and marginal farmers receive up to 50% capital subsidy (max ₹10,000 to ₹50,000) for purchasing power tillers, reapers, and seed drills.
Custom Hiring Centres (CHC): Farmers' Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and Self-Help Groups receive 40% to 80% subsidies (up to ₹20 Lakh) to establish Custom Hiring Centres, allowing local cultivators to rent tractors and harvesters at nominal hourly fees.

Soil Health Cards and Micro-Irrigation Subsidies

Sustainable agriculture initiatives help farmers optimize soil fertility and water resources:

Soil Health Testing: Free soil sample testing laboratories across all blocks issue micro-nutrient recommendations, helping farmers reduce unnecessary fertilizer expenditure.
Per Drop More Crop (Micro-Irrigation): Subsidies up to 80% are provided for installing drip and sprinkler irrigation systems in drought-prone districts like Bankura, Purulia, and Paschim Medinipur.

Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and Institutional Credit Linkages

To protect farming households from high-interest informal moneylenders, the West Bengal Department of Agriculture collaborates with Commercial Banks, Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), and District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs) to issue Kisan Credit Cards. KCC holders receive concessional crop loans up to ₹3 Lakh at an effective interest rate of 4% per annum (with prompt repayment interest subventions), securing seasonal liquidity for seeds, fertilizers, diesel, and labor payments across Kharif and Rabi cycles.