What Farmer Card means for growers
Staff Reporter :
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is set to launch the Farmer Card programme on April 14, marking Pahela Baishakh 1433, with the government describing it as a comprehensive support system aimed at transforming how farmers access state services.
More than just an identification document, the Farmer Card is being positioned as a gateway to subsidies, financial assistance and institutional support for crop growers as well as fish, livestock and dairy farmers.
At its core, the Farmer Card is designed to ensure that government benefits reach genuine farmers directly and efficiently. Through the card, farmers will gradually gain access to agricultural inputs at fair prices, government subsidies and incentives, irrigation services, and the use of machinery at affordable rates.
It will also facilitate agricultural loans on relaxed terms, crop insurance coverage, and opportunities to sell produce at fair market prices. In addition, farmers will receive training, digital access to weather and market information, and expert advice on crop diseases and pest control.
The programme will begin with a pre-pilot phase covering nine upazilas across eight divisions, where farmer data will be collected and cards distributed within the next 45 days.
During this phase, selected landless, marginal and small farmers will receive an average financial grant of Tk 2,500 for the Kharif-1 and Kharif-2 seasons.
The initiative will be implemented by the Department of Agricultural Extension under the Ministry of Agriculture.
In practical terms, the card will work as a verified farmer database linked to government support schemes.
Once registered, farmers will be able to access benefits and grants based on predefined criteria, reducing bureaucratic delays and the risk of exclusion or irregularities.
Officials say that after the pilot and evaluation stages, the programme will be expanded nationwide in phases over the next four years, potentially reshaping the country’s agricultural support framework by making assistance more targeted, transparent and technology-driven.
