The government is set to launch the pre-piloting of Farmers’ Card scheme for around 21,500 farmers on Pahela Baishakh, marking another step in fulfilling its election pledge to support the country’s farmers.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will formally inaugurate the programme on April 14, the first day of the Bengali New Year, by distributing the cards among farmers in Tangail Sadar upazila.

The decision was taken at a meeting on Tuesday at the Secretariat presided over by the Prime Minister, said his Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon.

He said the programme will be launched simultaneously in 11 upazilas including Tangail Sadar.

In the first phase, around 21,500 farmers will receive financial support through mobile banking, he added.

“The card will be provided to farmers in the agriculture, fisheries and livestock sectors. It will work like a debit card. Each year, 2,500 taka will be given as an incentive to small, marginal and landless farmers to purchase agricultural inputs such as fertiliser, seeds, pesticides and animal feed,” Rumon said.

Apart from Tangail Sadar, the other upazilas selected for the pre-pilot phase are Panchagarh Sadar and Boda upazila, Shibganj (Bogra), Shailkupa (Jhinaidah), Nesarabad (Pirojpur), Teknaf (Cox’s Bazar), Adarsha Sadar (Comilla), Islampur (Jamalpur), Goalanda (Rajbari) and Juri (Moulvibazar).

Officials at the meeting said the Farmers’ Card will provide farmers with a reliable identity and ensure more transparent and effective delivery of agricultural subsidies, loans, seeds, fertiliser and other government support, according to a press release issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.

The release said modern digital technology will be used to store and manage farmers’ information efficiently.

Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Amin-ur-Rashid Yasin, State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, Economic and Planning Adviser Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam, and Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications, ICT and Science & Technology Rehan Asif Asad, along with senior officials from the relevant ministries attended the meeting.

The Farmers’ Card initiative is part of BNP’s election pledge to support farmers across the country.