Why 'কৃষক' Trended in India: West Bengal's 24.66 Lakh-Tonne Paddy Procurement Plan Explained

The Bengali word 'কৃষক' (farmer) trended in India on 17–18 September 2026, recording approximately 500 searches according to Google Trends. This spike in interest follows a report by Bartaman Patrika on 17 September 2026, detailing the West Bengal government's initial procurement targets for the 2026–27 kharif season and a financial bonus for farmers.

Paddy Procurement Targets for Kharif 2026–27

The West Bengal government has established an initial target to procure 24.66 lakh tonnes of paddy from farmers for the upcoming 2026–27 kharif season. Food Minister Ashok Kirtania recently met with department officials to fix specific procurement quotas for each district.

This initial figure is calculated based on the needs of the public distribution system. Specifically, the state estimates that 6 crore ration beneficiaries under the National Food Security scheme require approximately 15.84 lakh tonnes of rice annually. While most districts will rely on their own production, rice will be transported to districts like Howrah and the two 24 Parganas from other regions.

Financial Bonus and MSP Support

To provide additional support to the কৃষক, the state budget has announced a bonus of ₹200 per quintal over the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for paddy procured through government initiatives. This additional payment is to be funded entirely from the state's own treasury.

Comparison with Previous Seasons

The current initial target of 24.66 lakh tonnes is significantly lower than the previous kharif season's target of 67 lakh tonnes. In that prior season, approximately 48 lakh tonnes were procured before the BJP government took office. Although a subsequent order for an additional 2 lakh tonnes was issued, it was ultimately not purchased.

The state's procurement is critical not only for the National Food Security scheme but also for supplying rice to approximately 2.7 crore beneficiaries under the state's own food security scheme, as well as providing for school mid-day meals and anganwadi centres.

Political Allegations and Context

Alongside the announcement, Food Minister Ashok Kirtania made a political claim regarding past procurement practices. He alleged that during the previous Trinamool government, only 30% of those selling paddy were genuine farmers, claiming that middlemen rented farmers' bank accounts to profit from the system. This remains a political allegation and has not been independently verified.

Summary of Procurement Details

Detail	2026–27 Initial Target	Previous Season Target
Paddy Volume	24.66 Lakh Tonnes	67 Lakh Tonnes
Additional Bonus	₹200 / quintal over MSP	Not Specified
Primary Driver	National Food Security Scheme	General Procurement