Puthia:A total of 1,124 landless, marginal, and small farmers in Puthia upazila will receive Tk 2,500 each under the government's Krishak Card initiative. This assistance is intended for purchasing agricultural inputs.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Krishak Card programme was inaugurated at Fulgazi Government Pilot High School field in Feni. The inauguration was broadcast live to selected upazilas and agricultural blocks, including Puthia, where it was screened at the Upazila Parishad auditorium.
The Upazila Agriculture Department reports that the selected farmers are from the Tarapur agricultural block in Puthia. The programme aims to include farmers in a digital database and provide them with financial assistance for agricultural inputs.
The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) is working on a database for 4.3 million farmers nationwide as part of this pilot project. In its first phase, 110,165 farmers are expected to receive Krishak Cards.
On the inaugural day, 147,000 farmers from 77 agricultural blocks across 77 upazilas in 56 districts are set to receive Tk 2,500 each. The Puthia event featured Professor Nazrul Islam Mondal, MP, as the chief guest, with Upazila Nirbahi Officer Liakat Salman presiding and Upazila Agricultural Extension Officer Israfil Haque moderating.
Special guests included Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Yusuf Ali, Additional Director of DAE Rajshahi Region Dr. Azizur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner Kazi Shahidul Islam, and DAE Deputy Director Mostafa Kamal Hossain. Other attendees were Puthia Assistant Commissioner (Land) Shibu Das Sumit, Upazila Agriculture Officer Smriti Rani Sarkar, Officer-in-Charge of Puthia Police Station Faridul Islam, agriculture officials, journalists, and farmers.