The government is set to launch distribution of 'Farmer Card' on Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bangla Calendar, aiming to ensure financial inclusion and improve the socio-economic condition of farmers.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will formally launch the pre-pilot programme of the "Farmer Card" on Tuesday (on April 14) at Shaheed Maruf Stadium in Tangail.
The announcement was made at a press conference held at the Bangladesh Secretariat in the city on Sunday.
Agriculture Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid addressed the press conference, which was attended by Prime Minister's Adviser on the Ministry of Finance and Planning Prof Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, Agriculture Secretary Rafiqul-e-Muhammed and Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Delowar Hosain.
The minister said the initiative reflects the government's commitment to building a modern, climate-resilient, and technology-driven agricultural system centered on farmers, in line with the election manifesto of the BNP-led government.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has prioritised the programme to enhance farmers' dignity, ensure access to financial services, and strengthen the overall agriculture sector, he said.
Under the programme, each farmer will receive a digital 'Farmer Card', which will serve as a secure identity and payment tool.
The card is designed to help reduce corruption and streamline distribution of subsidies and incentives.
Farmers have been categorised into five groups based on land ownership-- landless, marginal, small, medium, and large ones.
The programme will be implemented in three phases--pre-pilot, pilot, and nationwide rollout.
In the pre-pilot phase, the government has selected 11 blocks across 10 districts under eight divisions.
A total of 22,065 farmers have already been identified, including crop growers, fishers, livestock farmers, and a small number of salt farmers.
And around 93.7 per cent of them are landless, marginal, and small farmers, who will receive priority support.
Each eligible farmer will get Tk 2,500 annually through the card.
Officials said the card will enable farmers to purchase fertiliser, seeds, and other inputs using POS machines, get easy access to agricultural loans, and receive subsidies directly.
It will also provide mobile-based weather forecasts, market information, training, and advisory services.
The 'Farmer Card' will function as a bank debit card, with accounts already opened for beneficiaries through Sonali Bank.
A sum of Tk 83.4 million will be required for the pre-pilot phase. The pilot programme is expected to expand to 15 upazilas by August 2026, while a nationwide rollout is planned for the next four years.
The minister expressed hope that the initiative would enhance farmers' dignity, improve productivity, reduce wastage, and build a comprehensive digital database for agriculture, fisheries, and livestock sectors across the country.
The minister said the government will ensure that the cards are distributed fairly, without any political bias.
Adviser Prof Titumir said the initiative is the first of its kind in the country's history.
He said the BNP-led government is committed to implement its election manifesto to uplift the country to its desired destination.
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