Farmer card rollout from Pohela Boishakh to boost financial inclusion
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The government is set to launch the nationwide distribution of ‘Farmer Cards’ from Pohela Boishakh (first day of the Bangla Calendar), aiming to ensure financial inclusion and improve the socio-economic condition of farmers, in line with its election manifesto.
The announcement came at a press conference held at the Bangladesh Secretariat in the city on Sunday.
Agriculture Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid addressed the event, attended by State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, Prime Minister’s Finance and Planning Adviser Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, Agriculture Secretary Rafiqul-e-Muhammad 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 centred on farmers.
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 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.
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.
Among them, around 93.7 per cent 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, access easy 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.
The pre-pilot phase will cost Tk 8.34 crore. The pilot programme is expected to expand to 15 upazilas by August 2026, while a nationwide rollout is planned within the next four years.
The formal inauguration of the programme will take place on Pohela Boishakh at Shaheed Maruf Stadium in Tangail.
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.