Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare and Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan is undertaking a two-day visit to West Bengal on July 13-14, 2026, for high-level discussions on agricultural and rural development programs. The visit includes a dinner meeting with Chief Minister Shri Suvendu Adhikari on July 13th at the Chief Minister's residence in Kolkata, focusing on strengthening Centre-State cooperation on agriculture, farmers' welfare schemes, rural roads, housing, and employment.
On July 14th, a high-level review meeting will be held at the New Secretariat Building in Kolkata attended by the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, senior state department officials, and senior officers from the Government of India. The Union Minister will be accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, Ministry of Rural Development, and Indian Council of Agricultural Research. The Central team will present the status of major flagship programs including PM-KISAN, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, Minimum Support Price operations, Viksit Bharat–GRAMG, rural roads and housing initiatives, and funds allocated to Panchayati Raj Institutions. Detailed discussions will focus on the future roadmap for accelerating agricultural growth and rural development in the state.
In the afternoon, Shri Chouhan will visit the ICAR–Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres at Barrackpore to interact directly with jute farmers and women from Self-Help Groups. The Minister will hear first-hand from farmers about challenges in jute cultivation including retting, water availability, pest and disease management, production costs, and market prices, with discussions focusing on enhancing farmers' share in the jute value chain. ICAR-CRIJAF scientists will showcase improved jute varieties and demonstrate modern retting techniques, water conservation practices, and simplified processing and marketing technologies. Women Self-Help Groups will be introduced to opportunities in jute-based products and value addition, with focus on promoting rural entrepreneurship, increasing household incomes, and creating sustainable employment opportunities in villages.
The visit represents the Central Government's commitment to placing agriculture and rural development at the forefront of policy priorities in West Bengal through both high-level consultations with state leadership and direct engagement with farmers in the jute belt.