No farmer suicides in West Bengal, says minister for Agriculture Sobhondeb Chattopadhyay

West Bengal does not have a single farmer suicide and the state, which is the highest producer of rice in the country, is focussing on diversification of agriculture, West Bengal minister for Agriculture Sobhondeb Chattopadhyay said in Kolkata, even as the state is focussing on farm mechanization, promoting sale and export of special aromatic rice from the state.

"There was not a single case of farmer suicide in Bengal. The income of farmers has gone up three times during the rule of Mamata Banerjee government. We will see the interest of the farmers and also the business community," the minister said at a programme on Friday. Chattopadhyay said the income of farmers has tripled, making it the highest growth rate in the country. He was speaking at the seventh Food Processing Conclave organized by CII. He also stressed the crucial role that 864 Farmer Producer Organizations should play in bridging the gap between buyers and producers for the benefit of both parties.