Khulna: A total of 89,614 farmers in the Khulna agricultural region are set to receive "Farmer Card" in the first phase of a government initiative aimed at supporting farmers, according to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in the region. The block-level survey for selecting eligible farmers is nearing completion, with two of the three-phase surveys already completed and the third phase currently underway.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, a seven-member committee, headed by the respective Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of each upazila, has identified farmers eligible for the "Farmer Card" in the four districts of the agro-region, which include Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, and Narail. The committee initially identified around 28,403 eligible farmers in Khulna, 29,685 in Satkhira, 25,098 in Bagerhat, and 6,428 in Narail. By December, the committee had finalized the names of the remaining farmers and sent the list to the respective banks, with more names to be sent in phases.
The "Farmer Card" initiative was included in the Bangladesh Nationalist Party's (BNP) election pledge before it came to power in February this year. The block-level survey was subsequently launched to identify eligible farmers. Under the program, cardholders will receive annual financial assistance through Janata Bank, Sonali Bank, and Bangladesh Krishi Bank, with each farmer receiving Taka 2,500 annually.
The government plans to bring a total of 11,91,104 farmers in the Khulna Agricultural Region under the "Farmer Card" program in phases over five years. According to the DAE, farmers holding the cards will receive various benefits, including irrigation services at fair prices, training, agricultural machinery support, pest-control advice, facilities for marketing farm produce, agricultural insurance training, subsidies and incentives, loans, and agricultural inputs.
Additional Director of the DAE of Khulna Region Md Rafiqul Islam stated that farmers would receive the cards through banks and the cards would also function as debit cards.