Azizun Naher

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is set to distribute 7,000 ‘Farmer Cards’ among farmers in Feni on September 17 as part of a nationwide government initiative aimed at expanding access to agricultural subsidies, loans and cash incentives.

The government has set a target of distributing 16.5 million Farmer Cards among farmers across the country over the next four years, with an estimated initial cost of Tk 681 crore.

Fisheries, Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid disclosed the information while visiting the playground of Fulgazi Government Pilot High School in Feni this morning. The venue has been selected to host the card distribution programme, where the prime minister will formally distribute the Farmer Cards.

According to the minister, Farmer Cards will be distributed to 1.10 lakh farmers across the country on September 17. Simultaneous launching ceremonies will be held in 50 districts as the government begins expanding the programme nationwide.

Ministry officials said bank accounts have already been opened for around one lakh farmers out of the 16.30 lakh farmers registered under the programme so far. Information on another five lakh farmers has been verified and approved for opening bank accounts.

Under the government’s cash incentive programme, landless, marginal and small farmers holding Farmer Cards will receive Tk 2,500 directly through their bank accounts. Around one lakh farmers are expected to receive the cash assistance on the inauguration day.

The Farmer Card initiative is intended to create a unified system through which farmers can more easily access government support and agricultural services. The government plans to use the cards to make subsidies, agricultural loans and various incentives more accessible and transparent.

“The Farmer Cards will be distributed in each upazila and union, and the cards will be distributed among all farmers within the scheduled time,” Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid said.

The minister also addressed concerns over the country’s fertilizer supply, saying there is no shortage of fertilizer. He alleged that a “vicious circle” is attempting to create disorder in the fertilizer distribution system.

The Farmer Card programme will be implemented in three stages: pre-pilot, pilot and nationwide expansion. During the pre-pilot phase, farmers involved in crop production, fisheries and livestock, including dairy farmers, are being brought under the initiative across 11 blocks in 11 upazilas of 10 districts.

According to the Agriculture Ministry, the pre-pilot distribution of Farmer Cards was launched on Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bangla New Year, on April 14 this year.

During the first phase, 22,065 farmers in 11 upazilas across 10 districts received the cards. Among them, 20,671 landless, marginal and small farmers received Tk 2,500 each as annual direct cash assistance.

The Agriculture Ministry has set a target of distributing Farmer Cards to 43 lakh farmers during the 2026-27 fiscal year. The programme is expected eventually to cover approximately 2.27 crore farmers across the country.

The remaining farmers will gradually be brought under the programme as the government expands the card-based agricultural support system.

The initiative is expected to strengthen the delivery of government assistance to farmers by linking benefits directly to eligible recipients. Officials believe the system will also help improve transparency in the distribution of subsidies and incentives while reducing difficulties faced by farmers in accessing government services.

The September 17 event in Feni is therefore expected to mark a significant step in the government’s broader effort to establish a nationwide Farmer Card system and bring millions of farmers under a coordinated agricultural support framework.

Additional Secretary of the Agriculture Ministry M Yasin, Director General of the Department of Agricultural Extension M Abdur Rahim, Feni Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mahbubul Karim, Fulgazi Upazila Nirbahi Officer Kawser Hamid, Fulgazi Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Soheli Nawshin Protasha, BNP National Executive Committee Assistant Secretary Belal Hossen, BNP National Executive Committee Member Abu Taleb and Fulgazi Upazila BNP Convener Fakhrul Alam Shawpan were also present during the minister’s visit.