Govt to Launch Smart 'Farmer Card' Nationwide to Support Agriculture

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan said on Monday that the government has decided to launch a smart “Farmer Card” for all farmers across the country. 

The initiative, which will run alongside the existing “Family Card,” aims to streamline government support and eliminate the influence of third parties.

The decision was finalized during a high-level meeting at the Bangladesh Secretariat, presided over by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. 

Speaking to reporters after the session, the Minister confirmed that the Prime Minister has directed relevant ministries to begin the distribution process immediately.

“The ‘Farmer Card’ will be distributed to all the farmers nationwide directly at the quickest possible time in accordance with the order of Prime Minister,” he said.

The smart system is designed to bring all production-related facilities under a digital umbrella. 

According to the Minister, the card will facilitate direct access to agricultural knowledge, modern machinery, fertilizers, pesticides, and quality seeds. 

It will also provide farmers with real-time data on weather updates, production forecasts, and market conditions to help them make informed decisions.

“The Prime Minister has instructed all relevant ministries to start the process of distributing smart farmer cards. Through this card, farmers will receive government services directly, and the interference of middlemen in the procurement of agricultural inputs will be stopped,” the minister said.

Emphasizing the transparency of the new system, Swapan compared the direct link to a mobile telecommunications service. 
“Just as a mobile SIM buyer gets direct service, direct communication will be established between the farmer and the state through this card. There will be no third party,” he said.

The government plans to launch the initiative through a pilot project before rolling it out in phases nationwide. 

While the timeline for the full rollout depends on logistical readiness, the Minister reiterated the government's commitment to ensuring every farmer in Bangladesh is eventually covered by the scheme.