If you’re a farmer in West Bengal, chances are you’ve already heard of Krishak Bandhu — the state’s flagship scheme that puts money directly into farmers’ bank accounts twice a year and backs it up with life insurance cover. This guide breaks down everything about the scheme in simple language: what it offers, who qualifies, what documents you’ll need, and exactly how to check whether your payment has come through.
What Is the Krishak Bandhu Scheme?
Krishak Bandhu (meaning “Farmer’s Friend”) is a welfare programme run by the Department of Agriculture, Government of West Bengal. It was designed with two goals in mind: give farmers seasonal cash support so they can afford seeds, fertiliser and other inputs at the right time, and give farming families a financial safety net if the farmer passes away unexpectedly.
The scheme has two distinct parts:
- Assured income support — a fixed annual amount paid in two instalments, timed around the Kharif and Rabi cropping seasons.
- Death benefit cover — a lump sum paid to the family if an enrolled farmer within the eligible age group dies.
Money under both components is sent straight to the farmer’s own bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer, so there’s no cash handling and no middlemen involved.
History and How the Scheme Has Evolved
Krishak Bandhu was first introduced by the Department of Agriculture in January 2019. In June 2021, the scheme was revamped and relaunched under the name Krishak Bandhu (Natun) (“New Krishak Bandhu”), which roughly doubled the earlier financial support and formally added the death benefit component in its current shape. Since then, the scheme has grown to cover close to 80 lakh farmers and sharecroppers across all districts of the state, making it one of West Bengal’s largest agriculture welfare programmes by both reach and budget.
Krishak Bandhu at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Krishak Bandhu (Krishak Bandhu Natun) |
| Run By | Department of Agriculture, Government of West Bengal |
| Launched | January 2019; revamped June 2021 |
| Annual Income Support | Up to ₹10,000 per year for 1 acre or more, in 2 instalments |
| Minimum Support | ₹4,000 per year for smaller holdings (pro-rata) |
| Death Benefit | ₹2 lakh to the nominated family member |
| Payment Mode | Direct Benefit Transfer to bank account |
| Payment Timing | Kharif instalment around June, Rabi instalment around November |
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for Krishak Bandhu, an applicant generally needs to meet the following conditions:
- Be a resident farmer of West Bengal.
- Own cultivable agricultural land in the state, with that land properly recorded in official land records.
- Registered sharecroppers (bargadars) with valid documentation may also qualify, even without owning the land outright.
- Hold a valid bank account that can receive Direct Benefit Transfer payments.
- For the death benefit specifically, the farmer must fall within the scheme’s eligible age range, generally cited as 18 to 60 years.
Because eligibility is tied closely to land records, most delays or rejections trace back to a mismatch between the applicant’s name and the recorded landowner or bargadar details — so it’s worth double-checking your Record of Rights before applying.
Benefits Under Krishak Bandhu
Assured Income Support
- Farmers owning one acre or more of cultivable land receive ₹10,000 per year, split into two equal instalments of ₹5,000 — one for the Kharif season and one for the Rabi season.
- Farmers with smaller landholdings receive a proportionate, pro-rata amount, with reports indicating a minimum of around ₹4,000 per year (₹2,000 per instalment) for the smallest eligible holdings.
- Payments go directly into the beneficiary’s bank account with no manual disbursement.
Death Benefit (Life Insurance Cover)
- If an enrolled farmer within the eligible age group passes away, the nominated family member can claim a lump sum benefit of ₹2 lakh.
- This benefit is meant to cushion the family financially during a difficult transition and is separate from the annual income support.
Stacking with Central Schemes West Bengal farmers who are also enrolled in the central government’s PM-KISAN scheme can potentially receive both benefits together, since the two programmes run independently of each other. Combined, an eligible farmer’s household could see a meaningfully higher total annual support than either scheme alone provides — though eligibility for PM-KISAN follows its own separate criteria and application process.
Documents Required
Keep the following ready before applying or while resolving any status issue:
- Aadhaar card
- Voter ID card or another valid residence proof
- Land ownership documents — Record of Rights (RoR), Khatian, or Parcha
- Bargadar (sharecropper) certificate, if applying as a registered sharecropper rather than a landowner
- Bank account details, ideally Aadhaar-linked
- A recent passport-size photograph
- Registered mobile number
How to Apply for Krishak Bandhu
Offline Application
- Visit your local Agriculture Office or Block Office.
- Submit the application form along with your land details and supporting documents.
- Authorities will verify your land records against the official database.
- Once approved, your financial assistance is credited to your registered bank account starting from the next payment cycle.
Online Services While full online registration availability can vary, the official portal allows registered farmers to:
- Check their beneficiary and application status
- Track payment details and instalment history
- Verify Krishak Bandhu ID (KB ID) and enrolled land details
How to Check Krishak Bandhu Status Online
Here’s the general process for checking your status:
- Visit the official Krishak Bandhu portal — look for a .gov.in web address specifically, since several unofficial sites use similar names.
- On the homepage, find the option usually labelled “নথিভুক্ত কৃষকের তথ্য” (Registered Farmer Information) or “Beneficiary Status.”
- Choose how you want to search — most portals let you search by Voter Card number, Aadhaar number, Bank Account number, Krishak Bandhu ID (KB ID), Mobile Number, or Acknowledgement Number.
- Enter the relevant number along with the CAPTCHA shown on screen.
- Click Search or Submit.
- Your result will typically show your registered name, KB ID, Aadhaar reference, recorded land size, and your payment status — such as “Approved,” “Pending,” or “Transfer Success.”
If your status shows “Transfer Success” but you don’t see the money in your account yet, check your bank statement or UPI app after a day or two, since bank-side processing can occasionally lag behind the portal update.
2026 Update: Does Krishak Bandhu Continue Under the New Government?
West Bengal saw a change in state government after the 2026 assembly election, with a new administration led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari taking charge in May 2026. Unlike some other welfare schemes that were restructured after the transition, Krishak Bandhu has continued to run under its existing name and structure, with the state government confirming that welfare schemes benefiting farmers and other groups would not be discontinued. If you were already receiving Krishak Bandhu payments before the transition, you should not need to reapply — but it’s still worth checking your status on the official portal to confirm your record is active and your bank details are current.
What to Do If Your Name Is Missing or Payment Hasn’t Arrived
If you can’t find your name in the beneficiary list or your instalment hasn’t been credited, work through these steps:
- Re-check the ID number or details you entered — a small typo in your Voter ID or Aadhaar number is one of the most common reasons for a “not found” result.
- Confirm your bank account is active and correctly linked to your Aadhaar; an inactive or unlinked account is a frequent cause of failed transfers.
- Visit your local Krishi Sahayak (Agriculture Assistant) or Block Agriculture Office (BAO) with your documents — they can tell you the exact reason your application wasn’t approved or your payment was held.
- If your land records recently changed (inheritance, sale, or a new Record of Rights), make sure the updated details have been reflected in the scheme’s database, since mismatched land records are a common cause of rejection.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Krishak Bandhu Scheme? It’s a West Bengal government scheme that gives farmers annual financial assistance for cultivation, along with life insurance-style cover in case of the farmer’s death, paid directly into their bank account.
2. Who is eligible for Krishak Bandhu? Resident farmers of West Bengal who own cultivable land recorded in official land records, as well as registered sharecroppers (bargadars) with valid documentation, generally qualify.
3. What is the financial assistance amount under Krishak Bandhu? Farmers with one acre or more receive ₹10,000 per year in two instalments of ₹5,000 each. Those with smaller holdings receive a proportionate amount, with reported minimum support of around ₹4,000 per year.
4. What is the death benefit under Krishak Bandhu Scheme? Families of an enrolled farmer who dies within the eligible age group can receive a lump sum of ₹2 lakh.
5. How do I apply for Krishak Bandhu Scheme? You can apply offline at your local Agriculture Office or Block Office by submitting the application form with land documents, or check the official portal for available online services.
6. What documents are required for Krishak Bandhu registration? Aadhaar card, Voter ID or residence proof, land ownership documents (Record of Rights/Khatian), bank details, a passport-size photo, and your mobile number.
7. How do I check my Krishak Bandhu beneficiary status? Visit the official portal and search using your Voter Card, Aadhaar number, bank account number, KB ID, mobile number, or acknowledgement number.
8. How is the Krishak Bandhu amount paid? Through Direct Benefit Transfer, straight into the farmer’s registered bank account, split into a Kharif season instalment and a Rabi season instalment.
9. Is Krishak Bandhu Scheme only for small farmers? No. Both small and large landholders are eligible, though the amount received depends on the size of the cultivable land — smaller holdings get a proportionate, lower amount.
10. What is the objective of Krishak Bandhu Scheme? To give farmers reliable seasonal income for agricultural inputs and to provide financial security to farming families in the event of the farmer’s untimely death.