The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has started a data collection program for farmers and agricultural land across the country to implement the ‘Farmer Card’ program announced in the government’s election manifesto. The program has started simultaneously in all upazilas of the country from Saturday.
Initially, data will be collected by selecting one block from each upazila, which will later be expanded to all blocks in phases.
Recently, an office order signed by director general of the Department of Agricultural Extension Md. Abdur Rahim has shared this instruction.
It said that as per the decision taken in the second meeting of the ‘Farmer Card Technical Working Committee’ held under the chairmanship of the Agriculture Minister at the Ministry of Agriculture on the same day, data collection activities for farmers and land will be conducted simultaneously in every upazila of the country.
The order also said that in the first phase, data collection activities will start in one selected block of each upazila. Later, based on the experience of this pilot program, data will be collected in all other blocks of the upazila in phases. For the successful implementation of the program, training will be given to the officers and employees engaged in data collection on the use of the 'Data Collection App' between July 14 and 18. After the training, data collection of farmers and agricultural land will start at the field level from July 18.
In the office order, all directors, additional directors, deputy directors and upazila agricultural officers of the Department of Agricultural Extension have been called upon to make necessary preparations and take prompt action as per the instructions. Describing the matter as very urgent, instructions have been given to complete the data collection program within the stipulated time.
According to the concerned officials, if an accurate and integrated database of farmers is created, the path to implementing the 'Farmer Card' promised by the government will be easier. Through this, it will be possible to identify genuine farmers, deliver agricultural incentives, subsidies, loan facilities and other government services more quickly, transparently and effectively.
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