Govt adopts 7-point plan for agricultural dev: PM

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday said the government has adopted a time-befitting seven-point plan to boost agricultural development in the country.

He made the remarks while responding to a question treasury bench lawmaker from Tangail-6 constituency Md Robiul Awal during the prime minister’s question session in parliament.

Highlighting the importance of agriculture, the prime minister said Bangladesh is an agriculture-dependent country where the sector plays a crucial role in ensuring food security, poverty reduction and economic growth.

He, however, noted that agriculture is facing different challenges, including climate change, population growth, shrinking arable land and technological limitations. To address these challenges and increase productivity, he said the government launched a ‘Farmer Card’ programme on 14 April, as pledged before the election.

Tarique Rahman, also ruling BNP Chairman, said through this Farmer Card, 10 types of services, including agricultural inputs in fair prices, irrigation support, easy loans, subsidies, training, weather updates, crop protection advice, insurance, and fair market access will be given to farmers.

Gradually, all farmers in the country will be brought under this programme, he said.

As part of those plans, the prime minister said, the government has taken initiatives to expand modern irrigation systems along with use of improved and high-yielding seeds and balanced use of fertilisers to increase agricultural production and productivity.

To this end, he said, an initiative has already been taken to excavate 20,000 kilometers of canals across the country.

To promote agricultural mechanisation, Tarique Rahman said, plans have been undertaken to make tractors, harvesters, reapers, and other equipment easily available to farmers by providing subsidies.

Besides, he said, the 'crop zoning' system has been introduced to bring fallow land under cultivation and ensure optimal use of land.

"Through this, crops suitable for the soil, climate, and environment of specific regions are determined. As a result, land wastage is reduced and production increases," the premier said, adding, simultaneously, various programmes like increasing the use of surface water through canal excavation programmes have been undertaken to identify fallow land and bring it under cultivation.

In addition, he said, steps are being taken through special projects to bring fallow lands in the Sylhet region and char areas under cultivation.

The Leader of the House also said that the government is giving special importance to the diversification of agricultural products.

"The agriculture system, once dependent on rice, is now gradually being expanded to fruits, vegetables, pulses, oilseeds, spices and flower cultivation," he added.

Tarique Rahman said to make incentive and support activities for farmers transparent and accountable, subsidies will be provided through the Farmer Card for seeds, fertilizers, agricultural machinery, and other areas.

Besides, initiatives are being taken to introduce low-interest agricultural loans and crop insurance, he said, adding, special assistance programmes are also being undertaken to rehabilitate farmers affected by natural disasters.

For the welfare of landless, marginal, and smallholder farmers, funds are allocated every fiscal year under the 'Agricultural Rehabilitation Assistance' of the Ministry of Agriculture, he said.

In the current 2025-26 fiscal year, Tk7 crore has been allocated under the 'Agricultural Rehabilitation Assistance', the Prime Minister said, adding, from this allocation, Tk401.60 crore has been released for distributing free seeds, fertilisers, and other agricultural inputs to smallholder and marginal farmers, benefiting 25.22 lakh farmers.