Around 21,000 farmers in 11 upazilas across the country will receive “Farmers’ Cards” through Sonali Bank in the pre-pilot phase of the new government scheme, according to finance ministry sources.

The decision was taken at a meeting earlier this month involving the agriculture ministry, the Financial Institutions Division, and Sonali Bank, the sources said.

Selected farmers will receive Tk 2,500 through the card to purchase fertiliser, seeds, pesticides, and other agricultural inputs.

Under the pre-pilot phase, Sonali Bank will open accounts for farmers in 11 blocks across 11 upazilas, issue Farmers’ Cards in the form of Visa debit cards, and disburse government subsidies through them.

The bank will bear the cost of card preparation, while no fees will be charged for opening accounts. POS machines will also be provided free of cost at selected dealers’ shops.

A finance ministry official said multiple state-owned banks would be brought under the programme when the programme is expanded nationwide.

In this phase, the cards will be distributed through Sonali Bank branches in 11 upazilas -- Adarsha Sadar in Cumilla, Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar, Tangail Sadar in Tangail, Shibganj in Bogura, Islampur in Gaibandha, Boda and Panchagarh Sadar in Panchagarh, Juri in Moulvibazar, Goalanda in Rajbari, Shailkupa in Jhenaidah, and Swarupkathi in Pirojpur.

The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) will implement the pre-pilot phase by preparing a farmer database, distributing the cards, and managing data collection.

According to the DAE, the card will provide farmers access to various services, including agricultural inputs at fair prices, government subsidies and incentives, agricultural machinery and irrigation services at affordable prices. Farmers will also have easier access to agricultural loans and insurance.

Farmers will also be able to sell produce at fair prices, receive training, and access weather and market information digitally, along with guidance on crop diseases and pest control.

Officials said the programme will cover small, marginal, medium, large, and landless farmers. Fish farmers, livestock rearers, and dairy farmers will also be eligible for the benefits of the Farmers’ Card.

Agriculture contributed 11.03 percent to Bangladesh’s GDP in fiscal year 2024-25, according to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

The government allocated Tk 17,000 crore in both FY2024-25 and FY2025-26 for subsidies on fertiliser, seeds, machinery, and other agricultural inputs.

For FY2025-26, it has proposed allocating Tk 27,224 crore for the agriculture sector, according to finance ministry documents.

Earlier, Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid told The Daily Star that the government hopes to launch the pre-pilot phase by Pahela Baishakh, with plans to expand the programme nationwide within the next four years.