Bengal to pay paddy farmers Rs 200 a quintal above MSP, says Suvendu
By Arjun MehtaSenior Business Editor, Peepals Business
Representative image: zcf428526 / Pixabay
West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari said on 25 October 2026 the state will pay paddy farmers an extra Rs 200 per quintal over MSP; payment details are awaited.
What Happened
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced on Sunday, 25 October 2026, that the state government will pay every paddy farmer an extra Rs 200 per quintal over and above the minimum support price (MSP). He made the announcement at a Kojagari Lakshmi Puja gathering at Ramnagar in East Midnapore district. Adhikari also said the state expected a substantial increase in paddy and other farm output this year, despite flooding in parts of Malda and West Midnapore districts. Details such as when the extra amount will be paid and who will be eligible were not given in the reports.
Key Facts
- Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari promised an additional Rs 200 per quintal for paddy over the MSP, for every paddy farmer, on 25 October 2026.
- The announcement was made at Ramnagar in East Midnapore district during Kojagari Lakshmi Puja.
- Adhikari said the state expects a substantial rise in paddy and other agricultural output this year, despite floods in some pockets of Malda and West Midnapore.
- On 25 September 2026 in Purba Bardhaman, he had said the government would buy all the paddy and ensure a price of Rs 2,700 per quintal, according to reports.
- The state has separately announced a power subsidy of Rs 2 per unit for about 4 lakh farmers.
- Reports did not specify the payment schedule, eligibility rules or the procurement centres for the extra Rs 200.
Why It Matters
The minimum support price is the price at which the central government's agencies and state agencies buy certain crops from farmers, set each season to give growers a floor against falling market prices. For paddy, the MSP is fixed by the Centre for the kharif (monsoon) crop, and procurement is carried out through state agencies and cooperatives at purchase centres. States can choose to add a bonus on top of the MSP from their own budgets, which raises what farmers receive without changing the national price.
Paddy is a main crop for many of West Bengal's small and marginal farmers. Farmers who cannot easily reach government purchase centres often sell to private traders instead, and a state bonus helps only those who actually sell at government centres, so how widely procurement reaches villages will decide how much the promise is worth in practice.
The announcement builds on earlier promises by the Adhikari government to farmers, including the pledge in September to buy all paddy at Rs 2,700 per quintal and a power subsidy for irrigation pumps. Taken together, they amount to a significant financial commitment from the state budget. The government has not, in the reports reviewed, published the expected cost of the Rs 200 bonus.
| | Announcement | Date | Detail | |
|---|---|---|
| | Extra payment over MSP for paddy | 25 October 2026 | Rs 200 per quintal, every paddy farmer | |
| | Pledge to buy all paddy | 25 September 2026 | Price of Rs 2,700 per quintal (reported) | |
| | Farm power subsidy | Announced earlier | Rs 2 per unit, about 4 lakh farmers | |
Impact
Short-term: Paddy farmers who sell at government purchase centres stand to receive Rs 200 more per quintal, once the state sets out the rules. A farmer selling 30 quintals would receive Rs 6,000 more. The bonus may also draw more farmers to government centres instead of private traders, putting pressure on the state to open enough centres and pay on time.
Long-term: Bonuses over MSP raise farm incomes but also encourage farmers to keep growing paddy, a water-intensive crop, rather than shifting to others. They also add to state spending each year. Whether the extra payment becomes a regular feature will depend on the state's finances and on how procurement performs this season.
Who is affected: Paddy farmers across West Bengal, particularly small and marginal growers; rice millers and traders, who may face more competition from government procurement; cooperative societies and agencies that run purchase centres; and the state exchequer.
Key Takeaway
West Bengal will pay paddy farmers Rs 200 per quintal above the MSP, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said on 25 October 2026, though payment and eligibility details are still to come.
Questions and Answers
What did Suvendu Adhikari announce for paddy farmers?
On 25 October 2026 at Ramnagar in East Midnapore, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said the state government will pay every paddy farmer an additional Rs 200 per quintal over and above the minimum support price.
When will farmers get the extra Rs 200 per quintal?
The reports did not give a payment date or eligibility rules. Farmers will need to wait for the state government's procurement guidelines for this season.
Who pays the bonus, the Centre or the state?
The extra Rs 200 is a state government payment on top of the MSP, which is set by the Centre. It will come from West Bengal's own budget.
What else has West Bengal promised farmers this season?
In September, Adhikari said the government would buy all paddy and ensure a price of Rs 2,700 per quintal, and the state has announced a Rs 2 per unit power subsidy for about 4 lakh farmers.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
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