Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – BRAC Bank Limited has launched debit card for farmers in the country’s northern Dinajpur district enabling them to buy agricultural materials, avail loan and withdraw cash whenever necessary in easier way than ever before.
With this ‘Krishak Card’, farmers can buy seeds, irrigation fuel, fertilizer, pesticides and agricultural equipments and other materials. Farmers can avail revolving loan facility instead of term loan with lower interest rate.
Farmers usually face cash deficit at time of farming season but become cash solvent after harvesting. With this in view, Krishak Card enables farmers withdrawing cash whenever necessary during crop production cycle and repayment after selling crops. It will help them to get agricultural materials at the right time smoothening the cultivation process as well as ensuring timely harvest.
The card facilitates higher productivity and adds value to national economy. The card will help the farmers in Dinajpur, which is famous for rice production in the country, to meet expenses during farming season.
It will also help the farmers to break away from the local informal sources for loan. It will give freedom and renewed hope for the farmers.
In this connection, BRAC Bank in association with Bestec Investment, partner of the bank for the project, organized a program on Birganj Degree College premises at Birganj in Dinajpur on Friday to hand over Krishak Card to 200 local farmers.
Deputy Commissioner of Dinajpur Ahmed Shamim Al Raji, President of Dinajpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry Rafiqul Islam, deputy managing director of BRAC Bank Mohammad Mamdudur Rashid and chairman of Bestec Investment Ltd Architect Tariqul Islam attended the program.
President of Dinajpur Press Club Babu Chitta Ghosh, managing director of Bestec Agro Ltd Quamruzzaman, officials from local administration offices, local dignitaries and senior officials of BRAC Bank, were also present.
Receiving a card, a local farmer, said, “I used to have crisis of money during cultivation. I badly need money for preparing land, buying seeds, fuel, fertilizer, pesticides and other agricultural materials. I used to get poor harvest due to failure to arrange those in time. I am happy that this card allows me to buy seeds, fertilizer etc. This was beyond my dream.”
In 2011, BRAC Bank first launched ‘Krishak Card’ in Jhenaidah which generated huge interest and enthusiasm among the farmers.
BBN/SSR/AD-18Nov12-12:30 pm (BST)
