Archive · 19 Aug 2026
Bengal Seeks Central Agricultural University for Farming Boost
West Bengal wants a new university to help farmers in parts of the state.
The agriculture minister asked Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to support the idea.
The university would focus on areas with red and laterite soil.
These areas include Bankura, Purulia, Birbhum, Jhargram, Paschim Medinipur, Paschim Bardhaman, and nearby parts of Purba Bardhaman.
Farmers there have problems such as low crop yields and uncertainty about which rice varieties to grow.
The university could teach students and research better farming methods.
No exact location has been chosen yet.
The proposal must be considered by the Union government and could require Parliament’s approval.
West Bengal Agriculture Minister Dudhkumar Mondal asked Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to establish a Central Agricultural University in the state.
The proposed institution would serve red and laterite zones across seven districts and adjoining areas of Purba Bardhaman.
Officials say the university could combine education and research to improve crop yields and farmers’ economic prospects.
Farmers in the laterite zones reportedly face limited infrastructure and difficulty selecting suitable rice varieties.
The proposal requires approval from the Union government and may need to be passed by Parliament.
- Who
- West Bengal Agriculture Minister Dudhkumar Mondal proposed the institution to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
- What
- A request was made to establish a Central Agricultural University in West Bengal’s red and laterite zones.
- When
- Mondal met Chouhan on Tuesday evening; he met senior Indian Council of Agricultural Research scientists on Monday evening.
- Where
- The proposed university would cover major agricultural areas in western and central West Bengal, including seven named districts and adjoining areas of Purba Bardhaman.
- Why
- The proposal aims to improve farming capacity, crop yields, agricultural research, and farmers’ economic growth in the region.
- Proposed institution
- A Central Agricultural University for West Bengal’s red and laterite zones
- Proposed coverage
- Bankura, Purulia, Birbhum, Jhargram, Paschim Medinipur, Paschim Bardhaman, and adjoining areas of Purba Bardhaman
- State proposer
- Dudhkumar Mondal, West Bengal’s agriculture minister
- Union minister approached
- Shivraj Singh Chouhan
- Existing Central Agricultural Universities
- Three are currently listed: one each in Manipur, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh
- Location status
- The proposal does not specify a site; one of the seven districts may ultimately be selected
- Approval process
- The proposal would require Union government consideration and may need Parliament’s approval