February 3, 2019
Primary achievements of the Agriculture Department
Due to the untiring efforts of the Trinamool Congress Government, and the special initiative of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in many cases, Bangla has become of the most successful States in the agriculture sector.
The last seven-and-a-half years (when Trinamool has been in power) has been a period of mostly untrammelled success for the farmers of the State.
Let us look at the major successes of Bangla in agriculture during this period:
• Annual farmer income trebled, from Rs 91,000 in 2011 to Rs 2.9 lakh in 2018
• Tax and mutation fee on agricultural land completely waived
• 69 lakh farmers given Kisan Credit Cards
• Bangla Fasal Bima Yojana has provided farmers with free crop insurance
• Old age pension raised to Rs 1,000, and number of beneficiaries increased to 1 lakh
• Awarded Krishi Karman Award from the Centre five years in a row
• Production of foodgrains increased to 179.9 lakh metric tonnes (MT) in financial year (FY) 2017-18 compared to 148.1 lakh MT in FY 2010-11
• Total rice production increased to 158.9 lakh MT in 2017-18 compared to 133.9 lakh MT in 2010-11
• Production of maize increased to 13.3 lakh MT in 2017-18 compared to 3.5 lakh MT in 2010-11
• Production of pulses increased to 4.4 lakh MT in 2017-18 compared to 1.77 lakh MT in 2010-11
• Production of oilseeds increased to 10.5 lakh MT in 2017-18 compared to 7.0 lakh MT in 2010-11
• Agricultural input subsidy worth Rs 2372.56 crore distributed among 58.51 lakh farmers for crop damage due to natural calamities
• Farm implements like tractors, power tillers and pump sets, as well as small implements distributed among 3.7 lakh farmers
• ICT-enabled (information and communication technology) agri-extension project, ‘Matir Katha’ launched to address farm-related problems using hand-held tablet computers and a dedicated portal
• 53.46 lakh Soil Health Cards, with recommendation of use of applications of various nutrients, issued
