Photo: Collected

KHULNA, Sept 6, 2026 (BSS) - A total of 89,614 farmers of Khulna agricultural region are set to receive "Farmer Card" in the first phase of a government initiative aimed at supporting farmers, according to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in the region.

The block-level survey for selecting eligible farmers is nearing completion. 

Two phases of the three-phase survey have already been completed while the survey under the third phase is currently underway.

The Khulna Agricultural Region is covering four districts-- Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira and Narail.

According to DAE Sources, a seven-member committee, headed by the respective Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of each upazila are identified farmers eligible for "Farmer Card" in the four districts of the agro-region.

The committee initially identified around 28,403 farmers as eligible for Khulna, 29,685 farmers for Satkhira, 25,098 farmers for Bagerhat and 6,428 farmers for Narail and by December, it had finalized the names of remain farmers and sent the list to the respective banks. 

The remaining names will be sent in phases.

The "Farmer Card" initiative was included in the Bangladesh Nationalist Party's (BNP) election pledge before it came to power in February this year.

The block-level survey was subsequently launched to identify eligible farmers.

Under the programme, cardholders will receive annual financial assistance through Janata Bank, Sonali Bank and Bangladesh Krishi Bank. Each farmer will receive Taka 2,500 annually.

The government plans to bring a total of 11, 91,104 farmers in Khulna Agricultural Region under the "Farmer Card" programme in phases over five years.

According to the DAE, farmers holding the cards will receive various benefits, including irrigation services at fair prices, training, agricultural machinery support, pest-control advice, facilities for marketing farm produce, agricultural insurance training, subsidies and incentives, loans and agricultural inputs.

Additional Director of the DAE of Khulna Region Md Rafiqul Islam today said farmers would receive the cards through banks and the cards would also function as debit cards.