Bengal has doubled farmers' income ahead of schedule

Replying to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's missive of March 9, 2018 regarding doubling of farm income, Banerjee stated that her government was focused on "improving the socio-economic conditions by primarily enhancing the income of our small and marginal farmers who cultivate almost 95 percent of the arable land in the state."

According to data provided by the Bengal government, farm income in the state has increased 2.6 times per farmer — from Rs 91,000 in 2010 to Rs 2.39 lakh now.

Banerjee also mentioned that her government had removed middlemen from the procurement process.

She mentions: "It may kindly be noted that in terms of farmers' income, our achievement has already surpassed the goal of doubling farmers' income by 2022 as mentioned in your letter."

It may be recalled that after coming to power, the Mamata Banerjee government had given stress on increasing the income of farmers. In this regard, the Chief Minister said in her letter: "We have been procuring our main crop paddy at the minimum support price directly from the farmers and making payment directly to them through RTGS in 72 hours. In this Kharif marketing season, we have already targeted to procure 52 lakh metric tonne paddy."

She further maintained: "We have also taken several steps to open the market for better realization by the farmers by two amendments to the APMC Act in 2014 and 2017. However, it is a continuous process and we will take appropriate steps whenever there is need to amend our existing Act to make it more market and farmer friendly."

The Mamata Banerjee government has taken a series of steps starting from distribution of tools to carrying out necessary research work to improve the agriculture sector in the state.

In a bid to support farmers, her government even waived the tax on agricultural land and it had helped cultivators in a big way.

Such initiatives have helped in an increase in cultivation of crops and Bengal has bagged the Krishi Karman Award for four consecutive years. At the same time, 44.7 lakh farmers and 21 lakh hectare land were brought under insurance which was only 8.89 lakh farmers and 4.45 lakh hectare land in 2011.