The government is going to issue “Krishi Card” (agriculture cards) for the farmers by the end of this month for distribution of agricultural inputs, loans and other subsidies in a more transparent and effective manner.
A database of 1.42 crore farmers, including the landless and the marginalised, has already been prepared, while the agriculture ministry has finalised the draft card and sent it for printing at the district headquarters.
“Everything is in the final stage and we expect to start printing the cards in third week of this month,” Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury told The Daily Star.
She said the cards, a new idea for the country’s farmers, would be printed at district level instead of Dhaka and distributed at union level with an aim to make the best use of all the agricultural inputs and subsidies.
Earlier, the agriculture ministry prepared several samples of the proposed cards incorporating all the information on the farmers such as their detailed identity, category (landless or owner) and amount of land they own.
“We have showed the samples to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who advised us to make it more easily visible and understandable for the farmers,” said Matia, who initiated the step a few months ago for the benefit of the farmers.
She said the premier has appreciated the proposal of introducing the agricultural cards.
The minister said both database and the cards are very important to provide the farmers with various incentives and subsidies. “If we don’t have it now, there will be always a scope of irregularities and misuse of the government facilities meant for farmers,” she said.
She added her ministry has yet to fix the name and size of the cards.
“This is another step that also proves how the present government is serious about the country’s farmers and the agricultural sector,” comments an official.
According to the plan, the cards will be used to distribute fertilisers, agricultural loans and diesel and other subsidies. In case of a missing card, farmers will get a new card from the upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) concerned.
The cards will have a separate section for giving subsidy to farmers. Names of the agricultural inputs and crops and the amount of money a farmer is taking would be put on it with dates.
Terming the move a new one, Matia said the Awami League-led government would do everything to encourage and help the farmers so that all kinds of agricultural production increase to meet the soaring demand.
“We will use the cards whatever we do for our farmers,” said Matia, adding, from now on the agricultural loans will be given through only the banks using the cards.
Sources in the agriculture ministry say each card will cost about Tk 3
Categories: Bangla, Bangladesh, Bangladesh Economy, Bangladesh News, Daily Bangladesh News, Economy, News
