Govt expands Sufal Bangla, plans to end Singur ration scheme for farmers
Times of India | 29 July 2026
Kolkata: The state govt is trying to do away with the middlemen in the farm-to-table segment of agricultural produce by increasing the reach of the state-owned agri-marketing platform Sufal Bangla, state agriculture marketing minister Dilip Ghosh said. While the vegetables are being purchased from farmers’ markets and collection centres in Singur and Bhangar, the state govt plans to discontinue the special ration packages introduced by the previous Trinamool govt for unwilling farmers of Singur.
Speaking in a programme in West Midnapore, Ghosh said, “In the future, we plan to increase direct vegetable procurement from farmers in villages rather than relying solely on specific hubs. This will reduce the role of middlemen; ensure farmers receive a fair price for their crops and allow consumers to buy fresh vegetables at affordable rates.”
The department might also use manual wage employment under the VB-G RAM G scheme to develop more markets under Sufal Bangla. “We will inaugurate two more agriculture markets on Wednesday. We can engage workers under G RAM G to create more such markets for farmers,” Ghosh added.
The state govt has 844 retail outlets across the state under Sufal Bangla. A total of 776 outlets is managed by Farmer Producer Companies through their own working capital.
Recently, the state govt decided to increase procurement of fruits and vegetables at the Singur Krishak bazaar and assembly point of Sufal Bangla franchisees at Polerhat in South 24 Parganas.
“There are plans to revamp the Sufal Bangla project and extend it to more cities across the state. Efforts will be made to launch this service in places where it has not yet started. This will not only create a stronger market for farmers but also generate new business and employment opportunities for the younger generation,” Ghosh said.
“We will discontinue the special ration packages for unwilling farmers of Singur,” state food and supplies minister Ashok Kirtania said.
In 2011, the then Trinamool govt began providing subsidised food grains — specifically 16 kg of rice per person per month at Rs 2 per kg — to the unwilling farmers and landless families affected by the Singur land acquisition.