Farmer Card Distribution to Launch in 9 Upazilas on Pahela Baishakh

The government will officially inaugurate the ‘Farmer Card’ distribution program on an experimental basis on 14 April (Pahela Baishakh 1433) under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

This decision was taken during a review meeting held on Wednesday (4 March) at the Cabinet Division conference room in the Secretariat, chaired by the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Saleh Shibli confirmed the development to the media. He said that in the pre-pilot phase, data collection of farmers from all categories will be completed within the next 45 days. Following this, Farmer Cards will be distributed in 9 blocks across 9 selected upazilas from the 8 divisions.

The selected upazilas are: Tangail Sadar, Shibganj (Bogura), Panchagarh Sadar, Islampur (Jamalpur), Shailkupa (Jhenaidah), Nesharabad (Pirojpur), Juri (Moulvibazar), Cumilla Sadar, and Teknaf (Cox’s Bazar).

Shibli added that after completing the pre-pilot and pilot phases, the plan is to implement the Farmer Card program across all upazilas in the country within the next four years.

He emphasized that the Farmer Card is not just an identity document; it will serve as a symbol of every farmer’s rightful entitlements, dignity, and security. Through this card, farmers will gradually access various government services, including subsidized agricultural inputs, government incentives and subsidies, affordable access to agricultural machinery, low-cost irrigation facilities, easy-term agricultural loans, agricultural insurance, fair-price marketing opportunities for produce, agricultural training, digital platform-based weather and market information, and advice on crop diseases and pest management.

These benefits will not be limited to crop farmers; fishermen, livestock rearers, and dairy farmers will also come under the program’s coverage.

A four-member committee headed by the Finance Secretary has been formed to oversee the program.

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

The program will be implemented by the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) under the Ministry of Agriculture.

Under the initiative, landless, marginal, and small farmers will receive an average subsidy or agricultural input assistance of Tk 2,500 each. In addition, specific categories of farmers will receive financial grants at government-fixed rates during the Kharif-1 and Kharif-2 seasons.