United News of Bangladesh

The government has taken a series of measures to modernise agriculture through expanded support for farmers, climate-resilient farming and greater use of technology, aiming to strengthen food security. The initiatives, announced in the FY2026-27 budget, seek to transform agriculture into a self-reliant, technology-driven and climate-resilient sector, reduce production costs and improve rural livelihoods. A key feature of the plan is the nationwide rollout of the Farmer Card programme, for which the government has allocated Tk 1,062.5 crore in the new budget. Launched formally on April 14 this year, the programme has so far covered 22,065 farmers under a pre-pilot phase in 11 upazilas across 10 districts. Fish farmers, livestock farmers and salt cultivators have also been brought under its coverage. The government plans to distribute 4.25 million Farmer Cards across 100 upazilas in FY2026-27 before expanding the programme nationwide. Eligible landless, marginal and small farmers will receive an annual one-time cash assistance of Tk 2,500, along with 10 additional benefits promised in the government’s election manifesto. The budget also provides Tk 1,567.96 crore to implement the government’s decision to waive agricultural loans of up to Tk 10,000, including interest, in the crop, fisheries and livestock sectors. To strengthen farmers’ resilience against climate shocks, the government said it is preparing to introduce agricultural insurance while continuing concessional credit programmes. Loans at four percent interest will remain available for cultivating pulses, oilseeds, spices and maize, as well as for salt cultivation in coastal areas. Farmers in hill districts will continue to receive loans at five percent interest through Bangladesh Krishi Bank. The government also pledged to continue agricultural rehabilitation and incentive programmes through free distribution of seeds, fertilisers and other inputs while expanding farm mechanisation and building a comprehensive digital database of farmers. Among new initiatives is the revival of the Voluntary Canal Excavation Programme, aimed at restoring natural water flows, improving irrigation efficiency and reducing dependence on groundwater. To promote environmentally sustainable irrigation, the government plans to install 98 solar-powered irrigation pumps and 27 solar-powered dug wells, alongside expanding drip irrigation and aquifer recharge technologies. Fertiliser subsidies will continue, while 30,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser donated by Russia through the World Food Programme will be distributed free among farmers during the fiscal year. The budget also focuses on reducing post-harvest losses by expanding cold storage facilities, packaging houses and cold-chain infrastructure through public and private investment. A specialised cold storage facility will be established in the Barendra region to support mango growers. Agricultural research will prioritise developing high-yielding, salt-tolerant and drought-resistant crop varieties. The government also plans to introduce an Agropreneurship Start-up Policy and an Agricultural Cooperative Policy to create employment opportunities for young people. On food security, the government has set a food grain procurement target of 4.129 million metric tonnes for FY2026-27, up from the revised target of 3.819 million tonnes in the current fiscal year. Food grain storage capacity is expected to increase from 2.316 million tonnes in FY2024-25 to 2.45 million tonnes by FY2026-27. The government also plans to procure paddy directly from farmers across all upazilas through the Krishaker App, alongside expanding digital food management systems. To support low-income families, 5.5 million beneficiaries will continue to receive 30 kilograms of rice per month at Tk 15 per kg for six months under the Food-Friendly Programme. Open Market Sale operations have been expanded to 419 upazilas, where rice is being sold at Tk 30 per kg, while subsidised rice and flour will continue to be distributed through more than 1,000 sales centres across the country. A digital database for Food-Friendly Programme beneficiaries and an online food grain price monitoring system are also being developed. The budget gives renewed attention to the fisheries sector, setting a production target of 5.635 million metric tonnes of fish in FY2026-27. Under its blue economy strategy, the government plans to expand commercial tuna fishing, promote seaweed cultivation and increase fisheries export earnings to US$1 billion by 2030. Kuakata and Salimpur will be declared new Marine Protected Areas, while a modern fishing port will be established at Matarbari to encourage sustainable exploitation of marine resources. The government also plans to expand fish sanctuaries and nursery management to conserve indigenous fish species. Under the principle of “Jal Jar, Jola Tar” (Those who fish shall own the water), local fishers and low-income communities will receive greater access to water bodies, canals and haor areas. Coverage under the Vulnerable Group Feeding programme will be expanded to include 1.5 million fisher households, including newly enlisted families from haor regions and the Sundarbans. The government further announced plans to introduce the country’s first fisheries insurance scheme and promote mechanisation in commercial fish farming. In the livestock sector, authorities said locally developed vaccines against Avian Influenza and Goat Pox have completed field trials and will soon be supplied nationwide. The government also plans to ensure adequate stocks of animal disease prevention medicines at every upazila while strengthening the production of safe and quality feed for poultry and fish farms.