The West Bengal Government is likely to open more than 20 kisan mandis (farmer markets) at block levels by January 2014.

The mandis will have storage facilities. Around 22-23 kisan mandis are expected to be ready by January.

The State government has proposed to open 341 mandis, one in each block. Of the total, 95 mandis are under construction and expected to be ready in six months. Construction work for another 85 such mandis will start soon.

Also 50 warehouses for seeds are also under construction. The proposed godowns will entail an estimated investment of Rs 23 crore. So, the state government has released Rs 10 crore for this project.

The State Government has also chalked out plans to introduce a "crop insurance scheme" for commercial crops. This scheme is aimed at helping the farmers recover their crop loss due floods and other natural disasters.