Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to launch Farmer Cards on pilot basis on April 14 on the occasion of the Bangla New Year 1433.

The decision was taken at a review meeting held at the Cabinet Division in the Secretariat in Dhaka today with Tarique in the chair.

Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Saleh Shibly confirmed the information, saying a four-member secretary committee headed by the finance secretary was formed to oversee the programme.

Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid, State Minister Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam were present at the meeting, among others.

Regarding the Farmer Card, the press secretary said it was not just a card, but rather it a symbol of the rightful entitlements, dignity and security of every farmer of the country and they will hold the highest priority and position of respect.

Through this card, various services will gradually be delivered to farmers, Shibly said.

The services include agricultural inputs at fair prices, government subsidies and incentives, access to agricultural machinery at affordable rates, irrigation facilities at fair prices, agricultural loans on relaxed terms, agricultural insurance benefits, opportunities to sell agricultural products at fair prices, agricultural training, access to weather and market information through digital platforms, and advice on crop disease and pest control, he added.

In addition to crop-producing farmers, Shibly said, fish farmers, livestock rearers and dairy farmers will also receive the benefits of the Farmer Card.

Under the pre-pilot phase of the Farmer Card programme, information of all categories of farmers will be collected and Farmer Cards will be distributed in nine blocks under nine upazilas across eight divisions of the country in the next 45 days, he said.

Financial grants, at rates determined by the government, will also be provided to specific categories of farmers for crop production during the Kharif-1 and Kharif-2 seasons during the period, the press secretary added.

The proposed upazilas are: Tangail Sadar, Bogura’s Shibganj, Panchagarh Sadar, Islampur in Jamalpur, Jhenaidah’s Shailkupa, Nesarabad in Pirojpur, Juri in Moulvibazar, Cumilla Sadar, and Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar, he said.

The programme will be implemented by the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) under the Ministry of Agriculture, Shibly said, adding that under the programme, each landless, marginal and small farmer will receive an average subsidy/agricultural input assistance of Tk 2,500 as financial grants.

After the pre-pilot phase, he said, the formal inauguration of the Farmer Card distribution programme will take place on Pahela Baishakh, 1433 Bangla year.

Following the pre-pilot and pilot stages, the Farmer Card programme will be implemented in all upazilas of the country within the next four years, he said.