United News of Bangladesh

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).

After introducing the ‘Family Card’, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will now formally launch the government’s ‘Farmers’ Card’ pilot programme on April 14, the day of Pahela Baishakh, fulfilling his election pledge. The decision was finalised at a meeting on the ‘Farmers’ Card’ held at Secretariat on Sunday at 11am with the Prime Minister in the chair, said PM’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon. The ‘Farmers’ Card’ will initially be launched on a pilot basis under which marginal and most vulnerable farmers will receive certain benefits similar to those offered through the Family Card. The card will facilitate the delivery of subsidies, fertilisers, seeds and pesticides directly to farmerrs with a planned initial subsidy of around Tk 2,500 for eligible landless, marginal and small farmers. Agriculture Minister Aminur Rashid and State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku were present at the meeting. Prime Minister’s Adviser on Finance and Planning Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Rehan Asif Asad, and State Minister for Local Government, Cooperatives and Rural Development Mir Shahe Alam, among others, also attended the meeting. Before the 13th parliamentary election, BNP pledged to introduce the ‘Family Card’ aimed at empowering women by providing a monthly allowance and the ‘Farmers’ Card’ for marginalised farmers. On March 10, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman formally launched the government’s ‘Family Card’ programme for women-led households, fulfilling his election pledge to support women’s empowerment, economic inclusion and social justice. Just three weeks after the formation of the government following a massive election victory, the Prime Minister launched the Family Card at the T&T Playground, adjacent to the Korail Slum, in his constituency.