Patna: Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on June 22, transferred agricultural input subsidy worth over Rs 200 crore directly into the bank accounts of more than 3.96 lakh farmers affected by the natural disaster in March 2026. The transfer was made through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) under the Agricultural Input Subsidy Scheme.
The financial assistance aims to support farmers who suffered crop losses due to storm, untimely rainfall and hailstorm during the third and fourth week of March 2026 in the Rabi 2025–26 season.
Crop Loss Reported In 13 Districts
According to government data, reports of over 33% crop damage were received from 13 districts: Saharsa, Samastipur, Muzaffarpur, Madhepura, Araria, Begusarai, Purnia, Darbhanga, Kishanganj, Khagaria, Madhubani, Supaul and Bhagalpur.
Officials said the assessment triggered large-scale compensation under the state’s disaster response framework to provide immediate relief to affected farming households.
Total Assistance of Rs 260.71 Crore
The Disaster Management Department made available Rs 200 crore for agricultural input grants, while an additional Rs 60.71 crore was approved on the request of the Agriculture Department. In total, Rs 260.71 crore has been allocated for relief to farmers.
The government said the scheme is designed not only to provide financial assistance but also to restore stability and confidence among cultivators after climate-related losses.
Government’s Stand on Farmer Welfare
Addressing the programme at Sankalp Auditorium in Lok Sevak Awas, the Chief Minister said climate change is increasing the frequency of extreme weather events, directly affecting agriculture and rural livelihoods.
He said the government is extending maximum possible assistance from the state treasury to disaster-affected farmers and reiterated that strengthening agricultural resilience remains a priority.
He also referred to central schemes including PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi and the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, urging farmers to avail insurance coverage for better protection against future losses.
Officials said the DBT transfer marks a key step in ensuring timely compensation reaches affected farmers without administrative delay.
