**Executive Summary**
Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan will conduct a two-day visit to West Bengal on July 13–14, 2026, to review agriculture and rural development initiatives. The visit features high-level meetings with Chief Minister Shri Suvendu Adhikari and central officials to evaluate flagship programs such as PM-KISAN and PMFBY. Key objectives include strengthening Centre-State cooperation, addressing jute cultivation challenges, and promoting rural entrepreneurship through interactions with farmers and Self-Help Groups.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **High-Level Strategic Meetings**
* A dinner meeting on July 13 at the Chief Minister’s residence will focus on cooperation regarding agriculture, rural roads, housing, and employment.
* A formal review session on July 14 at the New Secretariat Building will involve the Chief Secretary, state department heads, and senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Rural Development.
* Discussions will focus on creating a future roadmap for accelerating agricultural growth and rural infrastructure in West Bengal.
* **Review of Flagship Programs**
* Comprehensive assessment of PM-KISAN, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), and Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana.
* Evaluation of Minimum Support Price (MSP) operations and the status of funds allocated to Panchayati Raj Institutions.
* Review of rural infrastructure projects, including Viksit Bharat–G RAM G, rural roads, and housing initiatives.
* **Agricultural Research and Farmer Engagement**
* Direct interaction with jute farmers at the ICAR–Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres (CRIJAF) in Barrackpore.
* Identification of field-level challenges including retting techniques, water availability, pest management, and market prices.
* Introduction of improved jute varieties and modern processing/marketing technologies to enhance the farmers' share in the value chain.
* **Empowerment of Self-Help Groups (SHGs)**
* Engagement with "Lakhpati Didis" to promote rural entrepreneurship and sustainable employment.
* Focus on value addition through jute-based products to increase household incomes in village communities.
**Impact Analysis**
**Central and State Government**
**Impact:** Strengthened policy alignment and cooperation between the Union and State governments regarding rural development.
**Action Required:** Senior officials must present progress reports on flagship schemes and collaborate on a strategic roadmap for the state's agricultural growth.
**Jute Farmers**
**Impact:** Direct access to the Union Minister to voice concerns regarding production costs and market prices; exposure to more efficient cultivation technologies.
**Action Required:** Farmers should participate in demonstrations of modern retting and water conservation practices to improve crop quality and income.
**Women Self-Help Groups (Lakhpati Didis)**
**Impact:** Increased opportunities for income diversification through jute-based value addition and rural entrepreneurship.
**Action Required:** SHGs must explore and adopt new processing and marketing technologies presented during the visit to create sustainable employment.
**ICAR–CRIJAF Scientists**
**Impact:** Opportunity to showcase research advancements and improved varieties directly to high-level policymakers.
**Action Required:** Scientists must demonstrate modern retting techniques and simplified marketing technologies to both farmers and government leadership.
Key Entities Referenced
Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan: Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare and Rural Development, leading the high-level review of agricultural and rural schemes.
West Bengal: The central location for the high-level talks, policy reviews, and field visits concerning agricultural and rural development.
Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana: A major flagship agricultural program identified for comprehensive review during the ministerial visit.
Viksit Bharat–G RAM G Yojana: A key rural development initiative focused on infrastructure and housing being evaluated by the Central team.
ICAR-Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres (CRIJAF): The specialized research institution in Barrackpore focused on improving jute varieties and retting techniques for farmers.
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan to
Visit West Bengal; High-Level Meeting with Chief
Minister Shri Suvendu Adhikari
Centre and West Bengal to Hold High-Level Talks on
Agriculture, Rural Infrastructure and Farmers' Welfare
Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan to Conduct
Comprehensive Review of PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana,
PMFBY, Viksit Bharat–G RAM G Yojana, Rural Roads and
Housing Initiatives
Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan to Engage Directly with Jute
Farmers, Agricultural Scientists and Lakhpati Didis During
West Bengal Visit
प्रव तथ: 13 JUL 2026 2:22PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare and Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan
will be on a two-day visit to West Bengal on July 13–14, 2026. During the visit, he will hold key
discussions with Chief Minister Shri Suvendu Adhikari on agriculture and rural development, besides
interacting directly with jute farmers and women from Self-Help Groups.
Shri Chouhan will arrive in Kolkata on the evening of July 13 and proceed directly to the Chief Minister's
residence. A dinner meeting between the Union Minister and the Chief Minister will focus on
strengthening cooperation between the Centre and the State on key issues, including agriculture, farmers'
welfare schemes, rural roads, housing, and employment.
On July 14, a high-level review meeting will be held at the New Secretariat Building in Kolkata. The
meeting will be attended by the Chief Minister, the Chief Secretary, senior officials of the concerned State
departments, and senior officers from the Government of India. The Union Minister will be accompanied
by officials from the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, the Ministry of Rural Development, and
the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
During the meeting, the Central team will present the status of major flagship programs, including PM-
KISAN, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, Minimum
Support Price operations, Viksit Bharat–G RAM G, rural roads and housing initiatives, and funds
allocated to Panchayati Raj Institutions. Detailed discussions will also be held on the future roadmap for
accelerating agricultural growth and rural development in the state.Later in the afternoon, Shri Chouhan will visit the ICAR–Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied
Fibres at Barrackpore, where he will interact with jute farmers and women from Self-Help Groups.
The Union Agriculture Minister will hear first-hand from farmers about the challenges they face in jute
cultivation, including retting, water availability, pest and disease management, production costs, and
market prices. Discussions will also focus on measures to enhance farmers' share in the jute value chain.
Scientists from ICAR-CRIJAF will showcase improved jute varieties and demonstrate modern retting
techniques, water conservation practices, and simplified processing and marketing technologies. Women
Self-Help Groups will also be introduced to opportunities in jute-based products and value addition, with a
focus on promoting rural entrepreneurship, increasing household incomes, and creating sustainable
employment opportunities in villages.
Through this two-day visit, featuring high-level consultations with the State leadership as well as direct
engagement with farmers in the jute belt, the Central Government, under the leadership and guidance of
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, is reinforcing its commitment to placing agriculture and rural
development at the forefront of its policy priorities in West Bengal.
***
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