Jharkhand announces ₹100/Quintal bonus on Paddy, One-Time Payment to boost farmer income

Jharkhand’s Food and Public Distribution Minister Irfan Ansari has announced that farmers in the state will receive an additional ₹100 per quintal on paddy over and above the Centre’s Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the 2025–26 fiscal year. In a press statement issued on Monday, the minister said the government will begin the paddy procurement process from December 15 and assured that farmers would receive a one-time direct payment for their produce.

The bonus will be directly added to the MSP while making payments, ensuring that farmers receive higher returns per quintal when selling to government procurement centres. For example, if the central MSP for common paddy is ₹2,369 per quintal, Jharkhand farmers will receive ₹2,469 per quintal after including the state bonus. Officials said this move is expected to boost farmers’ incomes and help them deal with increasing input costs such as seeds, fertilizer, diesel and labour.

Minister Ansari said the decision reflects the government’s commitment to support small and marginal farmers, who often face delays in payment and depend heavily on paddy sales as their primary source of livelihood. By offering a one-time direct payment system, the government aims to make the process more transparent and reduce the role of intermediaries, ensuring that farmers receive their full dues without delay.

Farmers’ bodies have welcomed the decision, noting that the additional ₹100 per quintal will make a meaningful difference, especially during a period of rising cultivation expenses. A farmer selling 50 quintals, for instance, would receive an additional ₹5,000 due to the bonus alone. Agriculture experts believe the scheme will encourage farmers to sell at government procurement centres rather than private traders, where rates are often lower and payments uncertain.

District administrations have been asked to prepare procurement centres, storage facilities and registration systems ahead of the December 15 rollout. The initiative is seen as a step towards improving rural income levels, strengthening food security and enhancing farmer welfare in Jharkhand.