Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid stated that empowering farmers is essential to reducing poverty and strengthening the national economy. He made the remarks on Friday morning at a program in Bibirbazar High School and College field in Jagannathpur Union of Cumilla’s Adarsha Sadar upazila, where agricultural cards were distributed to local farmers. The minister emphasized that around 70 percent of the population is directly or indirectly involved in agriculture, and improving their economic condition would benefit the entire country.

He added that former presidents and the current prime minister have all supported farmer-friendly policies. Since taking office, he has implemented initiatives such as strengthening agricultural loan waivers and introducing the “Agriculture Card” program, part of the government’s 31-point election pledge. He also urged farmers to use fertilizers and pesticides in consultation with agricultural supervisors to ensure better yields.

According to the Agriculture Department, 1,458 farmers in Cumilla received agricultural cards under a pre-piloting initiative aimed at building a unified farmer database to facilitate subsidies and services. The government is also expanding support programs like the “Family Card,” which has already benefited many farming families.