The BNP government’s Farmer Card is a digital identity + bank-linked debit card designed to register genuine farmers and deliver agriculture-related services and benefits more transparently and directly. Through the card, farmers can access targeted subsidies/incentives and key services (e.g., fair‑priced inputs, irrigation, easy-term loans, training, and weather/market information), and in the initial rollout landless, marginal and small farmers receive direct annual cash support (Tk 2,500) via the card-linked account.

 

Year

2026

Domain

Manifesto Watch

Pledge

Farmers Card

Source of the Programme

BNP Election Manifesto 2026

Objective of the Pledge

The program aims to provide farmers with a secure Farmer Card that
ensures easy access to affordable agricultural inputs, financial support,
training, and digital advisory services, improving productivity and income.
Under this initiative, farmers will also receive 2,500 taka per year as
direct financial assistance.
 

 

 

 

 

Stage of Implementation

 

 

Pledge Proposed:

This pledge has been articulated in the Bangladesh Nationalist
Party s election manifesto for Bangladesh s 13th national election.

 

Pledge Initiated:

On March 2, a four-member secretary-level committee was formed to
prepare an action plan within 7 days. A committee led by the Finance
Secretary has been formed to oversee implementation.

 

Legal, Policy Measures and Finance:

 

Lead Ministry:

The Farmers Card programme is designed and administered by the
Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) under the Ministry of Agriculture.

 

Finance:

For the pre‑pilot phase, the government has allocated
approximately Tk 8.34 crore. Financial support under the card targets
landless, marginal, and small farmers, with eligible beneficiaries receiving
Tk 2,500 per year in direct cash support. Transfers will be delivered through
Sonali Bank debit card accounts.

 

Scope:

The Farmers Card is a banking‑enabled debit card, issued
through Sonali Bank, with each card linked to a dedicated bank account opened
in the farmer s name. Cardholders will be able to purchase fertiliser, seed,
feed, and other inputs through Point‑of‑Sale (POS) machines
provided to authorised dealers.

 

Phasing:

The programme is explicitly structured into three sequential
phases:

Pre‑piloting (test phase) launched on 14 April 2026

Piloting planned to expand to 15 upazilas by August 2026

Nationwide rollout planned over the subsequent four years

Beneficiaries include not only crop farmers but also fishers,
livestock and poultry farmers, dairy farmers, and salt farmers (where
applicable). Farmers are categorised into five groups landless, marginal,
small, medium, and large allowing differentiated benefit design. The
government s stated objective is to distribute approximately 1 crore 65 lakh
(16.5 million) Farmers Cards nationwide and establish a consolidated farmer
information database over four years.

 

Operationalisation

The pre‑pilot began on 14 April 2026 with the distribution
of Farmers Cards to approximately 22,000 farmers across 11 upazilas in Ten
districts.

The Farmer s Card programme was formally launched on 14 April 2026
through a pre‑pilot inauguration held in Tangail, where the Prime
Minister digitally activated the system. At the moment of launch, cash
transfers of Tk 2,500 were automatically credited to eligible beneficiaries
bank accounts, with confirmation delivered via mobile phones.

 

Observation

The Farmers Card programme reflects a structured progression from
political commitment to pre‑pilot implementation, with clearly
articulated phasing, digitised systems, banking integration, and multi‑sectoral
benefits. The inclusion of diverse agricultural actors (crop, fisheries,
livestock, salt farming) and classification of farmers by scale strengthens
the programme s policy breadth.

However, as of now, the initiative remains at a pre‑implementation
threshold. Moreover, the absence of a codified nationwide legal framework,
publicly defined eligibility thresholds beyond the farmer category, and
disclosed monitoring or grievance redress performance indicators limits early
assessment of targeting accuracy and accountability.

Resources

https://bangla.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news-3904326

https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/l4n9y2j7sg

https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/t0wzqrsf65

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