Dhaka: Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid announced the upcoming launch of the ‘Farmers Card’ by Pahela Baishakh, the Bengali New Year, in eight to nine upazilas on a pilot basis. “We will be able to start the farmers card by Pahela Baishakh,” he stated while addressing reporters after a meeting at the Secretariat chaired by the Prime Minister.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the minister was asked whether the program would be launched nationwide or as a pilot. He clarified that the initiative will initially begin as a pilot in 8-9 upazilas. The Farmers Card is designed to benefit marginal farmers through a system akin to a family card, aiming to provide access to production inputs, consumer goods, agricultural land, and seed varieties. It also promises accurate reporting of information to the government.
In response to a query on the potential distribution of free fertilizer and seeds, the minister indicated that such benefits might be intended for marginal or very poor farmers. However, this topic was not extensively discussed in the recent meeting.