Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has announced that the ‘Farmer Card’ (Krishak Card) distribution programme will be launched on a pilot basis on April 14, marking Pahela Baishakh (1433 Bangla Calendar).
He disclosed the plan while speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the sports card and allowance programme at his Tejgaon office this morning.
“The ‘Farmer Card’ distribution programme is starting from April 14. The government is implementing its promises step by step to improve people’s living standards. In that continuity, the Sports Card has started today,” he said.
As part of the pre-pilot phase, information on all categories of farmers is being collected. The programme will then be launched simultaneously in 11 upazilas on Pahela Baishakh.
The selected upazilas are: Tangail Sadar, Shibganj (Bogura), Panchagarh Sadar, Boda (Panchagarh), Islampur (Jamalpur), Shailkupa (Jhenaidah), Nesarabad (Pirojpur), Juri (Moulvibazar), Cumilla Sadar, Goalanda (Rajbari), and Teknaf (Cox’s Bazar).
The programme will be implemented by the Department of Agricultural Extension under the Ministry of Agriculture.
Under this initiative, landless, marginal and small farmers will receive an average subsidy or agricultural input support of Tk 2,500.
In addition, selected farmers will receive financial assistance at government-set rates during the Kharif-1 and Kharif-2 seasons.