PM Tarique Rahman to launch 'farmer card' programme on April 14

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is set to formally launch the pilot distribution of the “Farmer Card” programme on April 14, marking the Bengali New Year, officials said.

The decision was taken at a review meeting chaired by the prime minister at the Cabinet Division conference room in the Secretariat on Wednesday (March 4).

Press Secretary Saleh Shibli said the card will enable farmers to access various government services and support programs. "A four-member oversight committee, led by the finance secretary, has been formed to supervise the initiative."

The meeting was attended by Agriculture Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid, State Minister for Agriculture Sultan Salauddin Tuku and State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam, among other officials.

According to the press secretary, the Farmer Card will serve not only as an identification document but also as a symbol of farmers’ rights, dignity and security. Through the card, farmers will gradually gain access to a range of government services.

These include agricultural inputs at fair prices, government subsidies and incentives, affordable access to farm machinery, irrigation services, easier agricultural loans, crop insurance, opportunities to sell produce at fair prices, agricultural training, and digital information on weather and market conditions. Farmers will also receive guidance on pest and disease management.

The scheme will not be limited to crop farmers. Fish farmers, livestock rearers and dairy producers will also be included under the program.

Shibli said data collection for farmers of all categories will begin during a 45-day pre-pilot phase. After that, Farmer Cards will be distributed in nine blocks across nine upazilas in all eight divisions.

The selected areas include Tangail Sadar, Shibganj in Bogura, Panchagarh Sadar, Islampur in Jamalpur, Shailkupa in Jhenaidah, Nesarabad in Pirojpur, Juri in Moulvibazar, Cumilla Sadar and Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar.

The programme will be implemented by the Department of Agricultural Extension under the Ministry of Agriculture.

Under the initiative, landless, marginal and small farmers will receive support worth about 2,500 taka on average in the form of subsidies or agricultural inputs. Financial grants will also be provided to certain categories of farmers during the Kharif-1 and Kharif-2 cropping seasons.

Officials said that after completing the pre-pilot and pilot phases, the government plans to expand the Farmer Card programme to all upazilas across the country within the next four years.