This page shows the current applicable minimum wage for workers employed in Agriculture in West Bengal. Whether you hire farm hands for a single harvest or work in the fields yourself, the rates below reflect what the West Bengal government has notified for this scheduled employment.
Minimum wage rates for Agriculture in West Bengal
| Skill category | Zone A / month | Zone A / day | Zone B / month | Zone B / day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unskilled | ₹10,558 | ₹406 | ₹9,760 | ₹375 |
| Semi-skilled | ₹11,615 | ₹447 | ₹10,733 | ₹413 |
| Skilled | ₹12,777 | ₹491 | ₹11,807 | ₹454 |
| Highly-skilled | ₹14,054 | ₹541 | ₹12,990 | ₹500 |
Rates effective 1 July to 31 December 2026.
What counts as Agriculture
Agriculture as a scheduled employment covers work involved in the cultivation of land and the raising of crops, along with allied farm operations such as horticulture, floriculture, farm-based dairy and cattle rearing, poultry, and the harvesting, grading, and storage of produce. It applies to manual and machine-assisted work carried out on farms, orchards, plantations, and nurseries rather than to downstream food processing in factories.
- Crop farms and cultivated fields
- Horticulture, floriculture, and plant nurseries
- Orchards, vineyards, and plantations
- Dairy, cattle, and livestock farms
- Poultry and hatchery units
- Seed farms and agricultural research or demonstration plots
- On-farm cold storage, grading, and packing yards
Typical roles and skill categories
- Field labourer or farm hand
- Ploughman and tractor operator
- Sower and transplanter
- Harvester and crop picker
- Irrigation attendant or pump operator
- Sprayer of fertilisers and pesticides
- Dairy or cattle attendant
- Nursery gardener or mali
- Farm supervisor or agricultural overseer
In Agriculture, unskilled work usually covers general field hands, weeders, and load carriers; semi-skilled covers irrigation attendants, sprayers, and dairy or poultry handlers; skilled covers tractor and pump operators, grafters, and nursery gardeners. Highly skilled typically covers roles such as farm-machinery mechanics and supervisors who plan and oversee agricultural operations.
Who fixes this wage
Agriculture is a notified scheduled employment for which the West Bengal government fixes minimum wages by skill category, and in many cases by zone or region, so the rate that applies depends on the worker's skill grade and the location of the farm. Employers engaging agricultural workers in West Bengal are required to pay at least the notified minimum for the relevant category.
How West Bengal sets minimum wages
West Bengal's Labour Commissionerate splits the state into two zones, A and B, and gives four figures for each skill category: a monthly and a daily rate in Zone A and again in Zone B. Four skill grades are covered, and the schedule runs for the half-year from 1 July to 31 December 2026. Revision comes through periodic notification rather than a variable dearness allowance.
Common questions
What is the current minimum wage for Agriculture in West Bengal?
In West Bengal, the minimum wage for Agriculture currently runs from about ₹375 to ₹541 per day and ₹9760 to ₹14054 per month, depending on skill category and zone, effective 1 July to 31 December 2026. The exact figure by category is in the table below. Confirm the exact rate for your worker's skill category and zone in the table above, and against the latest official notification.
Does the Agriculture minimum wage apply to seasonal and daily-wage farm workers in West Bengal?
Yes, the notified rates cover workers engaged in agricultural operations whether they are hired on a daily basis, for a season, or for a full crop cycle, as long as the work falls within this scheduled employment.
Are allied activities like dairy, poultry, and horticulture treated as part of Agriculture?
In most West Bengal notifications, allied farm operations such as horticulture, floriculture, dairy tending, and poultry are read together with crop cultivation, but employers should confirm the exact scope of the applicable West Bengal schedule since coverage can vary.
Can wages differ within West Bengal for the same agricultural role?
Yes, because the West Bengal government often fixes rates by zone or region in addition to skill grade, the same role can carry a different minimum wage depending on where the farm is located.
Never underpay in West Bengal
ZeniaHR maps every worker to the correct minimum-wage notification by state, skill and zone, and flags anyone paid below it.
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