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Published : 22 Apr 2026, 06:09 PM
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has announced a seven-point plan aimed at transforming Bangladesh’s agriculture into a sustainable and profitable sector, while mitigating the challenges of climate change and shrinking arable land.
During a question-and-answer session in parliament on Wednesday, the premier detailed the strategic roadmap in response to a query from lawmaker Rabiul Awal from Tangail-6.
He emphasised that the role of agriculture remains paramount for national food security and poverty alleviation despite emerging technological and environmental hurdles.
"We must overcome these challenges to increase productivity," the premier said, noting that the government has already begun distributing Farmer Card -- a pre-election pledge -- to approximately 27.5 million farmers nationwide.
Tarique’s seven-point strategic roadmap for the country’s agricultural development begins with the plan to set up modern infrastructure, including the expansion of irrigation systems and the introduction of crop zoning to ensure optimal land use.
The plan also emphasises financial support and accountability through the distribution of subsidies for seeds, fertilisers, and machinery using the digital Farmer Card to ensure transparency.
The roadmap includes risk mitigation measures such as crop insurance and low-interest agricultural loans for farmers.
It also highlights post-harvest management through the construction of modern cold storage facilities and warehouses, along with the distribution of air-flow machines to preserve perishable produce.
In addition, the strategy focuses on research and innovation by directing institutions like BARI, BRRI, and BINA to develop high-yielding, disease-resistant, and short-duration crop varieties.
Climate-smart agriculture is another key pillar of Tarique’s plan, promoting environmentally friendly technologies to combat the effects of climate change.
Finally, the roadmap encourages resource efficiency by reducing reliance on chemical fertilisers and pesticides through the use of nano-fertilisers, pre-paid water metres, and digital tools like the Khamari mobile app.
The Farmer Card will serve as a gateway to ten essential services. Beyond subsidies, cardholders will receive weather and market data via digital platforms, pest management advice, and access to agricultural training.
Tarique also informed the House that in the current 2025-26 fiscal year, Tk 7 billion has been allocated for agricultural rehabilitation.
Out of this, over Tk 4 billion has already been released to provide free seeds and fertilisers to 2.5 million small and marginal farmers.
Responding to another supplementary question, the prime minister assured that agricultural labourers would also benefit from the financial assistance channelled through the Farmer Card system for marginal farmers.
The government also shared its plans to establish specialised agricultural export zones and procurement centres in the northern region of the country.
