PM opens pre-piloting 'Farmer Card' distribution
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today inaugurated the 'Farmer Card' distribution in 10 districts across the country in the pre-piloting phase as part of the implementation of ruling BNP's election pledges. On the occasion of the Pahela Baishakh-1433, the premier digitally launched the programme by pressing a button on a laptop at 12:22pm at the inaugural ceremony at Shaheed Maruf Stadium in Sadar Upazila here.
With pressing the button, Taka 2,500 was immediately reached out to accounts of 22,067 farmers simultaneously. A total of 1,453 farmers in Tangail received this money. Later, Tarique Rahman, also ruling BNP chairman, directly handed over 'Farmer Card' and saplings of trees to 15 farmers. They are: Md Abu Kaiser, Md Roman, Shahnur Alam, Md Shah Alam, Julekha Akhtar, Nasima Khanam Sumana, Shilpi, Amena Begum, Nabab Ali, Mohammad Ali, Kabir Hossain, Mst Monowara Akhtar, Shamima Akhtar, Laila Begum and Tahmina.
Fisheries, Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid chaired the inaugural function while Prime Minister's Adviser Md Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku spoke as special guests. Agricultural Secretary Dr Rafiqul I Mohamed delivered the welcome address while Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Representative in Bangladesh Jiaoqun Shi also spoke at the function. On the occasion, one male and one female farmer shared their feelings.
Later, Tarique Rahman addressed a farmers' rally here. Earlier, the Prime Minister entered the Shaheed Maruf Stadium at 11:20 am. Upon arrival at the venue, he went straight to the stage and greeted the farmers and agriculturists. In line with the ruling BNP's election pledges, the government is implementing the 'Farmer Card' to directly empower the farmers, who are considered the backbone of Bangladesh's economy.
The initiative is also taken to integrate the agriculture sector with modern technology, protect farmers' rights and improve their living standards. PMO Spokesperson Mahdi Amin earlier said that in nearly two months since assuming office, the Prime Minister has already implemented many electoral pledges one after another. He said the aim of the 'Farmer Card' is to protect farmers' rights and improve their living standards.
In the first phase, Mahdi Amin said the programme is being launched in 11 upazilas across 10 districts while 30 lakhs farmers will be brought under the special card gradually. On the inauguration day, he said, the Prime Minister distributed the card among 1,453 farmers in Tangail. However, farmers will get the card under 11 blocks in 11 upazilas of the 10 districts.
The blocks are: Kamlapur block under Panchagarh Sadar upazila, Panchpir block under Boda upazila of Panchagarh district, Uthli block under Shibganj upazila of Bogura district, Kripalpur block under Shailokupa upazila of Jhenaidah district, Rajabari block under Nesarabad upazila of Pirojpur district, Rajarchara block under Teknaf upazila of Cox's Bazar district, Aryannapur block under Cumilla Adarsha Sadar upazila, Suruj block under Tangail Sadar upazila, Tenapocha block under Goalanda upazila of Rajbari district, Fultala block under Juri upazila of Moulvibazar district and Gaibandha block under Islampur upazila of Jamalpur district.
The 'Farmer Card' will be given to all farmers across the country under two more phases- pilot programme and nationwide rollout, while the farmers are being selected under five categories- landless, marginal, smallholder, medium-sized and large-scale farmers. In the pre-piloting phase, along with crop farmers, fish farmers or fishermen, livestock farmers and dairy farmers have been included while salt farmers have also been included where applicable. The cardholders will receive 10 types of services, including agricultural inputs in fair prices, irrigation support, easy loans, subsidies, training, weather updates, crop protection advice, insurance, and fair market access.
According to Fisheries, Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid, the pre-piloting phase will cost around Taka 8.34 crore. After this phase, a pilot programme will be launched in 15 upazilas across the country by August this year. Utilizing experiences of the pre-pilot and pilot schemes, the government will gradually distribute the card among all farmers and create a database across the country over the next four years. The Farmer Card will function as a banking debit card linked to accounts opened at Sonali Bank. The cardholders will be able to purchase agricultural inputs such as fertilizer, seeds, fish feed, and livestock feed through Point of Sell (POS) machines provided to concerned dealers.
