Let the government’s ‘Farmer Card’ initiative be fruitful

The contribution of the agricultural sector to the country’s economy is undeniable. It also plays a major role in food security.

However, over time, this sector has become plagued by various problems.

Agricultural production is being disrupted due to various reasons, including climate change, shortage and price increase of agricultural inputs, and gradual reduction in the amount of agricultural land.

In addition, managerial weaknesses in the procurement of agricultural products and the ferocity of middlemen are the main realities of this sector.

Farmers are facing the most trouble due to these reasons. Sometimes due to bad seeds, the crop does not yield the desired amount. Sometimes due to high yield, the price falls.

As a result, farmers cannot even cover the cost of production by selling the crop.

At times, due to the effects of climate change or lack of conservation opportunities, surplus crops are lost and they suffer financially.

In such a reality, the government’s launch of the ‘Farmer Card’ program as part of the implementation of its election promises is an initiative to awaken hope in the minds of the public.

If it is fully implemented, it is possible to change the current situation of farmers to a great extent.

In this case, the prerequisite is that there should be no managerial weakness in its implementation.

In many cases, the real beneficiaries have been deprived, while powerful groups have benefited.

Therefore, we must also consider why these initiatives could not be successfully implemented in the past. We must exercise utmost caution in distributing the cards.

An accurate digital database should be used to identify the actual needy farmers.

According to The Department of Agricultural Extension’s data, there are 16.5 million agricultural families who are dependent on agriculture in one way or another.

Initially, it has been decided to distribute 22,000 farmer cards as a pre-pilot project, of which 20,000 are landless, marginal and small farmers.

To make this initiative effective, equal importance must be given to other structural problems in agriculture, such as improving irrigation systems, addressing the impacts of climate change, ensuring fair prices, and modernizing market systems.

If the government implements the plans for digging canals, restoring groundwater levels, and building cold storage, the impact of the ‘Farmers Card’ program will increase manifold.

The main goal of the government should be that farmers actually benefit from it.

If farmers are well, the country will be well is not just a political promise, it is also a great truth from an economic perspective.

Therefore, it is hoped that the ‘Farmer Card’ should not be limited to a paper project but become a strategy for real change.