Digital “Farmers Card” Launched via Visa Network to Deliver Subsidies Directly
The government has launched a Visa network-based ‘Farmers Card’, through which subsidies and incentives will be delivered directly and digitally to farmers. The service, inaugurated on Tuesday, 14 April, the first day of 1433 Bangabda, includes Visa as a partner organization. The card has been implemented under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture with the cooperation of Sonali Bank PLC.
Stakeholders said the card will function both as an identity document for farmers and as a secure digital transaction instrument through the Visa network. As a result, government assistance can be delivered to farmers quickly and transparently.
Through the card, farmers will receive access to a total of 10 types of services, including fair-priced agricultural inputs, irrigation facilities, agricultural loans on easy terms, use of agricultural machinery, subsidies, weather and market information, training, pest and disease control advice, agricultural insurance, and opportunities for selling produce at fair prices.
Visa’s Country Manager for Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, Sabbir Ahmed, said, “This is a moment of pride for modern Bangladesh. The Farmers Card initiative has integrated farmer identification, services and digital transactions, which will further improve their daily lives. It will also facilitate farmers’ integration into the digital economy through a more transparent and efficient system. We are delighted to work with the government and Sonali Bank on such a national initiative.”
On the other hand, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Sonali Bank PLC, Md. Shawkat Ali Khan, said, “Through the Farmers Card initiative, we have made the process of delivering financial assistance to farmers easier, more transparent and more effective. As banking services are directly linked with government initiatives, farmers are benefiting. I am hopeful that this partnership will play an important role in national development and the expansion of financial services.”
Stakeholders believe that this initiative will play a significant role in advancing modernization of the agriculture sector as well as strengthening financial inclusion in the country.
In the pilot phase, more than 22,000 farmers have been brought under the program. On the same day, cards were distributed among more than 20,000 farmers, fish farmers, livestock farmers and salt farmers across 11 upazilas in 10 districts. Each recipient initially received Tk 2,500 in assistance, which can be used for purchasing agricultural inputs.
In the first phase, the program has been launched in Tangail Sadar, Shibganj of Bogura, Panchagarh Sadar, Boda, Islampur of Jamalpur, Shailkupa of Jhenaidah, Nesarabad of Pirojpur, Juri of Moulvibazar, Comilla Sadar, Goalanda of Rajbari and Teknaf of Cox’s Bazar upazilas.
DBTech/RI/EK/OR
