Bangladesh Bank (BB) has set a target of Tk 39,000 crore for agricultural and rural loan disbursement in FY2025-26, 2.63 per cent higher than the previous year, according to a press release.
Governor Ahsan H Mansur announced the Agricultural and Rural Credit Policy and Programme for the year at a press conference at the Jahangir Alam Conference Hall on Tuesday.
The Web-Based Agri-Credit MIS software was also launched to improve monitoring and policy formulation.
Of the total target, Tk 13,880 crore is allocated for state-owned commercial and specialised banks, while Tk 25,120 crore is for private and foreign commercial banks.
The new policy links the annual agricultural and rural credit programme with Sustainable Development Goals, relevant constitutional provisions, the Bangladesh Bank Order 1972 and the Bank Company Act 1991.
It raises the livestock sector loan target from 15 per cent to 20 per cent and sets a 2 per cent target for irrigation and agricultural equipment. Crops such as beetroot, cucumber, taro, black seed, ginger, garlic, turmeric in bags and molasses production have been added to the eligible list.
Banks have been instructed not to take any charges beyond minimal documentation for loans up to Tk 3 lakh in livestock and fisheries, to use region-specific crop potential data from the Crop Zoning System or Khamari app under the Area Approach System, and to share interest or profit with agents to accelerate disbursement through agent banking.
The policy expands contract farming to all crop, livestock and fisheries sub-sectors, mandates CIB reporting for all agricultural loans, and calls for awareness campaigns and rewards for regular repayment.
The central bank said the measures aim to curb inflation, increase rural employment and income, and strengthen sustainable economic growth.