Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to launch Farmer Card formally on pilot basis on April 14 on the occasion of first day of the Bangla New Year 1433. 

The decision was taken at a review meeting held at the Cabinet Division Conference Room in the Bangladesh Secretariat here today with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in the chair.

Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Saleh Shibly confirmed the matter to BSS, saying a four-member secretary committee headed by finance secretary was formed in the meeting to oversee the programme. 

Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid, State Minister Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam were present at the meeting, among others.

About the Farmer Card, the press secretary said this card is not just a card rather it will be a symbol of the rightful entitlements, dignity and security of every farmer of the country, where they will hold the highest priority and position of respect.

Through this card, various services will gradually be delivered to farmers, Shibly said. 

Farmers will get services including agricultural inputs at fair prices, government subsidies and incentives, access to agricultural machinery at affordable rates, irrigation facilities at fair prices, agricultural loans on easy terms, agricultural insurance benefits, opportunities to sell agricultural products at fair prices, agricultural training, access to weather and market information through digital platforms, and advice on crop disease and pest control through the card, he added.

In addition to crop-producing farmers, Shibly said, fish farmers, livestock rearers and dairy farmers will also receive the benefits of the Farmer Card.

Under the pre-piloting phase of the Farmer Card programme, within the next 45 days, information of all categories of farmers will be collected and Farmer Cards will be distributed in 9 blocks under 9 upazilas across 8 divisions of the country, he said. 

Financial grants, at rates determined by the government, will also be provided to specific categories of farmers for crop production during the Kharif-1 and Kharif-2 seasons during the period, the press secretary added.

The proposed upazilas are: 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, he said.

The programme will be implemented by the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) under the Ministry of Agriculture, Shibly said, adding, under the programme, each landless, marginal and small farmer will receive an average subsidy/agricultural input assistance of Taka 2,500 as financial grants. 

After completion of the pre-piloting phase, he said, the formal inauguration of the Farmer Card distribution programme will take place on Pahela Baishakh, 1433 Bangla year.

Following the pre-piloting and piloting stages, the Farmer Card programme will be implemented in all upazilas of the country within the next 4 years, he said.