Nationwide 20,671 farmers to receive ‘Krishok Card’

The government is set to introduce a “Krishok Card” initiative aimed at supporting landless, marginal, and small-scale farmers, with 20,671 farmers selected in the initial phase to receive financial assistance.

Agriculture Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid announced on Sunday (April 12) that the programme will be formally launched on Pohela Boishakh.

Under the pre-pilot scheme, selected farmers will receive Tk 2,500 annually in direct cash support. They will also gain access to a range of agricultural benefits through the card, including subsidised fertiliser, seeds, irrigation services, and easier access to credit and machinery.

According to ministry data, information on 22,065 farmers has been collected as of April 11. Of them, 2,246 are landless farmers (owning less than 5 decimals of land), 9,458 are marginal farmers (5–49 decimals), and 8,967 are small farmers (50–249 decimals). From this pool, 20,671 have been selected for incentives, representing about 13.7 per cent of the total.

The initiative will also provide farmers with mobile-based weather and market updates, agricultural training, pest management advice, insurance facilities, and support for fair pricing of produce.

The government has allocated Tk 8.34 crore for the pre-pilot phase. If successful, the programme will expand to 15 upazilas in the pilot stage, with plans to roll it out nationwide over the next four years alongside the development of a digital farmer database.

Officials said the initial rollout will cover selected districts, with cards to be distributed in nine out of 10 designated blocks on launch day. Distribution in one block in Cumilla will take place separately on April 17.

The minister said the programme is being implemented transparently, free from political influence, with a focus on ensuring fair access to benefits for farmers.