Dhaka:Farmers enrolled in the government's Farmer Card programme in Bangladesh will now receive advance weather forecasts directly on their mobile phones. This initiative aims to help farmers take timely precautionary measures against various weather conditions, such as rainfall, temperature fluctuations, and adverse weather events.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the weather updates will be sent automatically to cardholders via SMS every six hours under normal conditions, with more frequent alerts during disasters and severe weather events. This service is part of the government's Farmer Card programme, which offers farmers ten types of services, including agricultural input assistance, low-interest loans, irrigation facilities, and crop insurance.
The BNP-led government, under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, has set a target to bring approximately 24 million farmers under the programme within the next four years. Agricultural production in Bangladesh is highly dependent on weather conditions, and this initiative is expected to assist farmers in making informed decisions related to cultivation, irrigation, fertiliser application, pesticide use, and harvesting.
The automated SMS-based alert system will provide essential weather-related information directly to farmers, eliminating the need for them to seek out forecasts themselves. For example, advance warnings of rainfall during the harvesting season will allow farmers to secure their crops in time, while rainfall forecasts will aid in efficient irrigation planning, reducing water consumption and production costs.
The Agriculture Information Service under the Department of Agricultural Extension will implement the initiative by disseminating weather alerts. The programme also aims to create an integrated database of farmers to streamline the delivery of government services and support.
As of the current fiscal year, 4.3 million Farmer Cards are being distributed, with data collection progressing in various districts. The programme's activities were launched on October 1 in 77 upazilas across 56 districts, aiming to integrate over 110,000 farmers into the system. The PARTNER project plays a key role in field-level implementation, focusing on modernising agriculture through accurate data collection and need-based training.
Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture emphasize that this initiative will enhance the efficiency and accessibility of government assistance to farmers, ensuring that they receive timely and relevant information for effective crop management.