Farmers of West Bengal are getting customized and personalized Soil Health Card in Bengali/vernacular based on sample collected from more than 13 lakh plots, across the state, in every two year cycle. Cent percent soil samples are mobile app based, location authenticated collection process and are analyzed at state owned and sponsored Soil Testing Laboratories on twelve parameters. Fertilizer & nutrient recommendations and soil reclamation advisory are auto generated for the season wise crops selected by the farmer.    Contact No. 033 2481 4947

Introduction:
In January,2019 the Department of Agriculture, Govt. of West Bengal introduced the “Krishak Bandhu” Scheme with an aim to provide financial assistance to all Farmers of West Bengal for agricultural purposes and to provide social security to the farm families in the event of untimely death of the farmers. Recently the scheme has been recast and renamed as "Krishak Bandhu (Natun)". The new scheme was launched by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of West Bengal on 17th June 2021. Direct Benefits: Direct benefit under the scheme includes financial assistance for cultivation purpose upto a maximum of Rs. 10,000 /- per annum and a minimum of 4,000/- per annum receivable in two equal installments during Kharif and Rabi seasons every year.  Farmers with 1 acre or more of cultivable land are entitled for assistance of Rs.10,000/- per annum. Farmers with cultivable land holding of less than 1 acre will get assistance on pro-rata basis subject to a minimum assistance of Rs. 4,000/- . Under "Krishak Bandhu Death Benefit" component of the scheme, in case of death of a farmer between the age of 18 to 60 years, the State Government provides one time lump sum grant of Rs. 2 lakh to the family of the deceased to ensure social security to the bereaved family. Other Benefits: Farmers registered in "Krishak Bandhu" scheme get preference in the State Government's paddy procurement scheme implemented by the Food & Supplies Department. The State Government is planning to extend benefits of other farmer centric government schemes to the Krishak Bandhu registered farmers. Registration: For registration and other information about the scheme, the farmers may contact the office of the Assistant Director of Agriculture of his/her block.

Under this G2B (Government to Business) service, licensing process of seed, pesticide and fertilizers are developed with scope of digitization of old paper based licence, issue of new license and amendment of existing license for business of seed, fertilizer and pesticide.  Digital signature, App based verification of storage and retail outlet, digital MIS and online payment gateway is making this service a part of ‘ease of doing business’ for 30,000+ Agriculture input dealers of the state. Contact No: Seed: 033-2262 5795, Fertiliser: 033-2214 1699, Pesticide: 033-2499 7316

Estimated 26% of standing crop is lost per year in India due to pest and disease related problems.  The main reason behind this staggering lost volume is that the problem is not detected at right time and solution is not available readily.  To assist the farmers in solving this major problem, technology based solution engine has been introduced in Matir Katha platform.  Queries raised by farmers directly or through extension officers with Matir Katha App, reach to cloud answering engine that generates possible solution instantly and alerts nearest Agriculture officer and the answer reaches to farmer’s mobile as incoming voice call and SMS in vernacular.

Almost all Kharif and Rabi crops are covered under farm insurance safety net, free of cost in West Bengal. Except in case of Potato and Sugarcane (For these two crops, Farmers bear a portion of insurance premium). Loanee farmers need not apply but Non-Loanee farmers need to apply to insure their crops. Loss caused  to standing crop (sowing to harvesting), post-harvest losses, localized calamities, add-on coverage for crop loss due to attack by wild animals are covered under this scheme. Contact No:  033-2253-5436.

DOA, GOWB has launched free to use and easy to use, Farmers App in Bengali interface, to bridge the physical distance between 72 lakh farm holders and Department of Agriculture officers.  Any farmer from any remote corner of the state now can capture and send crop problems of his/her field 24/7, to get support from domain experts across the state.  He can link with Assistant Director of Agriculture of nearest block as well to know details of the Departmental schemes using the App. Contact No:        Toll Free No: 1800 103 1100

Government recommended, detailed package of practice of 91 cultivated crops with image and text is created under Matir Katha platform.  Approved content is stored at cloud, accessed with smart device and can be projected with wireless micro projector, anywhere, anytime. Knowledge is now portable and this software, hardware and content combination of Matir Katha has assisted the Department of Agriculture to solve digital divide and last mile knowledge distribution problems like distance, language, time, content quality, uniformity of content, trainer quality as well as procedural delays.  Anybody can access this platform for new ideas, cultivated varieties, scientific management methodology of pest & disease, post-harvest techniques and many other facets of scientific farming based knowledge through this module. Contact No: 033-2254-0931

Growth stage wise all possible protection measures from pest and diseases of major cultivated crops of West Bengal are described in details under this module of Integrated Pest Management. It covers weed, disease & insect management practices. Contact No: 033-2499-7316

Weather advisory on weekly basis provided by DOA is available and archived in this module.  It helps farming families to take precautionary measures against weather condition based crop issues and helps to decide sowing time etc. Contact No: 033 2262 5795

Matir katha toll free number is an unique Farmer service that links any farmer, from any corner of the state, with the Assistant Director of Agriculture of his/ her Block.  Unlike other Toll Free services, each call gets digitally registered with Auto answering engine on Matir Katha platform.  Eventually farmers of any location, get solution from an office under agriculture Deptt. nearest to him, not from experts of distance location who may not be familiar with local conditions. Farmers can also register information on loss caused by natural calamities through this service. Those farmers who use smartphone and data can use Matir Katha App and who use feature phone can call toll free number to get knowledge support from the Department officers.  Toll Free No: 1800 103 1100

Under this knowledge module there are 11 sub modules of various aspects of farming viz. innovative practices, district information, cropping pattern, irrigation management, success stories, antidotes etc. Contact No: 033 2254 0931

Farm Mechanization is promoted through providing subsidy at various scales for procuring small and large power/manually operated machines by farmers and setting up Custom Hiring Centres (CHC).  Applications are received online and processed digitally and decision is taken through Block Level Sanctioning Committee (BLSC) and District level Sanctioning Committee (DLSC).  Machines are geo-tagged. Contact No.: 033 2262 5716

Farmers of West Bengal are getting customized and personalized Soil Health Card in Bengali/vernacular based on sample collected from more than 13 lakh plots, across the state, in every two year cycle. Cent percent soil samples are mobile app based, location authenticated collection process and are analyzed at state owned and sponsored Soil Testing Laboratories on twelve parameters. Fertilizer & nutrient recommendations and soil reclamation advisory are auto generated for the season wise crops selected by the farmer.    Contact No. 033 2481 4947

Govt. of West Bengal, DOA has introduced an unique Assured financial Assistance to all Farmers and farm household families of West Bengal under a single benefit scheme, “Krishak Bandhu”. It’s a single digitised card based identity of all farmers of West Bengal. Direct benefit includes, 1. Farmers with one or more acre landholding entitled for 5000/- per annum (Rabi & Kharif Season) assistance with minimum 2000/- per annum assistance pro rata basis. 2. Under Death Benefit Scheme farm family will be facelifted one time lump sum 2 lakh. Farmer’s personalized authenticated DOA specified database captured digitally, stored in Krishak Bandhu cloud, analysed and digitally verified with L&LR database synchronization by DOA officers. This system verified authenticated data shared with State & District Co-Operative Banks by DOA for direct benefit disbursement. Personalised “Krishak Bandhu” digital Smart Card will be given to farmers to authenticate beneficiaries, for all further Govt assistances in future.

Under this G2B (Government to Business) service, licensing process of seed, pesticide and fertilizers are developed with scope of digitization of old paper based licence, issue of new license and amendment of existing license for business of seed, fertilizer and pesticide.  Digital signature, App based verification of storage and retail outlet, digital MIS and online payment gateway is making this service a part of ‘ease of doing business’ for 30,000+ Agriculture input dealers of the state. Contact No: Seed: 033-2262 5795, Fertiliser: 033-2214 1699, Pesticide: 033-2499 7316

Estimated 26% of standing crop is lost per year in India due to pest and disease related problems.  The main reason behind this staggering lost volume is that the problem is not detected at right time and solution is not available readily.  To assist the farmers in solving this major problem, technology based solution engine has been introduced in Matir Katha platform.  Queries raised by farmers directly or through extension officers with Matir Katha App, reach to cloud answering engine that generates possible solution instantly and alerts nearest Agriculture officer and the answer reaches to farmer’s mobile as incoming voice call and SMS in vernacular.

Almost all Kharif and Rabi crops are covered under farm insurance safety net, free of cost in West Bengal. Except in case of Potato and Sugarcane (For these two crops, Farmers bear a portion of insurance premium). Loanee farmers need not apply but Non-Loanee farmers need to apply to insure their crops. Loss caused  to standing crop (sowing to harvesting), post-harvest losses, localized calamities, add-on coverage for crop loss due to attack by wild animals are covered under this scheme. Contact No:  033-2253-5436.

DOA, GOWB has launched free to use and easy to use, Farmers App in Bengali interface, to bridge the physical distance between 72 lakh farm holders and Department of Agriculture officers.  Any farmer from any remote corner of the state now can capture and send crop problems of his/her field 24/7, to get support from domain experts across the state.  He can link with Assistant Director of Agriculture of nearest block as well to know details of the Departmental schemes using the App. Contact No:        Toll Free No: 1800 103 1100

Government recommended, detailed package of practice of 91 cultivated crops with image and text is created under Matir Katha platform.  Approved content is stored at cloud, accessed with smart device and can be projected with wireless micro projector, anywhere, anytime. Knowledge is now portable and this software, hardware and content combination of Matir Katha has assisted the Department of Agriculture to solve digital divide and last mile knowledge distribution problems like distance, language, time, content quality, uniformity of content, trainer quality as well as procedural delays.  Anybody can access this platform for new ideas, cultivated varieties, scientific management methodology of pest & disease, post-harvest techniques and many other facets of scientific farming based knowledge through this module. Contact No: 033-2254-0931

Growth stage wise all possible protection measures from pest and diseases of major cultivated crops of West Bengal are described in details under this module of Integrated Pest Management. It covers weed, disease & insect management practices. Contact No: 033-2499-7316

Weather advisory on weekly basis provided by DOA is available and archived in this module.  It helps farming families to take precautionary measures against weather condition based crop issues and helps to decide sowing time etc. Contact No: 033 2262 5795

Matir katha toll free number is an unique Farmer service that links any farmer, from any corner of the state, with the Assistant Director of Agriculture of his/ her Block.  Unlike other Toll Free services, each call gets digitally registered with Auto answering engine on Matir Katha platform.  Eventually farmers of any location, get solution from an office under agriculture Deptt. nearest to him, not from experts of distance location who may not be familiar with local conditions. Farmers can also register information on loss caused by natural calamities through this service. Those farmers who use smartphone and data can use Matir Katha App and who use feature phone can call toll free number to get knowledge support from the Department officers.  Toll Free No: 1800 103 1100

Under this knowledge module there are 11 sub modules of various aspects of farming viz. innovative practices, district information, cropping pattern, irrigation management, success stories, antidotes etc. Contact No: 033 2254 0931

Farm Mechanization is promoted through providing subsidy at various scales for procuring small and large power/manually operated machines by farmers and setting up Custom Hiring Centres (CHC).  Applications are received online and processed digitally and decision is taken through Block Level Sanctioning Committee (BLSC) and District level Sanctioning Committee (DLSC).  Machines are geo-tagged. Contact No.: 033 2262 5716