Govt introduces ‘Farmer Card’ to make farmers self-reliant, prosperous: PM

Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Tuesday said the government introduced the ‘Farmer Card’ aimed at making farmers self-reliant and financially solvent.

“The goal of the current elected government is to make farmers self-reliant and financially solvent. That is why we have given this ‘Farmer Card’,” he said.

The Premier made the remarks after inaugurating the ‘Farmer Card’ distribution programme at the Shaheed Maruf Stadium in the Sadar Upazila in Tangail.

On the occasion of the Pahela Boaishakh, the Prime Minister formally launched the pre-pilot programme in 11 upazilas of 10 districts simultaneously by handing over the ‘Farmer Card’ to 15 marginal farmers in Tangail.

Tarique Rahman launched the programme nationwide by pressing a button on a laptop around 12:22pm while Taka 2,500 was transferred directly to the bank accounts of 22,065 farmers each across 11 upazilas. In Tangail 1,453 farmers received the money.

After inaugurating the Farmer Card distribution programme digitally, the Prime Minister handed over the card and saplings to 15 farmers. Addressing them, he said, “When these saplings grow and bear fruit, you should send some for me.”

Speaking on the occasion, he said, “You are aware that through the Krishak Card (Farmer Card), we will try to provide 10 types of services directly to the farmers, InShaAllah. Through these 10 benefits, the farmer will be able to change their conditions in many ways”.

Referring to his party’s election manifesto, the BNP chairman said, “Many of us present here may not be directly involved in farming, but someone in our family is connected to agriculture”.

Out of all the people in Bangladesh, there are 4 crore families and almost every family has some link to farming, meaning agriculture is the main occupation of this country, the Prime Minister added.

“I personally believe and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the current elected government also believe that if farmers of this country are well-off, if the farmers of this country survive, then the whole of Bangladesh will do well and the people of entire Bangladesh will live well,” he said. 

The premier also announced that the government will provide the ‘Farmer Card’ to 2.75 crore farmers gradually over the next five years.