Where Sweat Turns to Grain: Bengal’s Historic Rice Yield - GetBengal Story
Feeding millions is no ordinary task, but Bengal’s farmers have done just that. This year, they harvested a staggering 25.653 million metric tonnes of paddy—the highest in the state’s history. Behind this milestone lies not just statistics, but countless hours of toil under the sun, resilience in the face of storms, and a bond with the land that runs generations deep.
Year after year, farmers here wrestle with nature—floods sweeping away crops, cyclones tearing through fields—yet they rise again. Schemes like Krishak Bandhu, Bangla Shasya Bima, and Sufal Bangla have offered them a safety net, but what truly carries them forward is grit. As Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote in her tribute: “Farmers are the backbone of our nation; their contribution is unparalleled.”
Once, Bengal was home to nearly 500 indigenous rice varieties. Names like Jalkamini, Jamaishal, Kabirajshal, and Phulmoti weren’t just grains; they were part of Bengal’s cultural heartbeat. Though many have faded into memory, some are now being revived through joint efforts of farmers, researchers, and community organisations.
Experts say agriculture in Bengal has been changing rapidly since 2011, with pulses, maize, oilseeds, and aromatic rice finding new life alongside the traditional harvests. Yet, at its core, the story remains the same: farmers, with calloused hands and unyielding spirit, keeping alive the age-old promise that no one will go hungry.
Note: Translated by Krishnendu Mitra
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