The government has taken initiatives to bring around 2.75 crore farmers under a digital platform as part of its plan to modernise agriculture through smart technologies, digital services and mechanisation, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman told Parliament on Wednesday.
The move aims to transform the country’s agriculture sector into a more profitable, competitive and sustainable industry by expanding the use of advanced technologies and improving access to digital agricultural services, he said.
The prime minister made the remarks while responding to a question from Kishoreganj-3 lawmaker Md Abul Kalam during the question-answer session on the 21st working day of the second session of the 13th Parliament.
Tarique Rahman said the government was working to shift agriculture from a traditional and labour-intensive system to a technology-based sector through research, innovation, modern technology and mechanisation.
He said initiatives had been taken to introduce and expand digital agricultural services, including farmer registration, farmer databases, mobile-based weather information, market price updates, agricultural advisory services, e-extension facilities and online platforms.
The prime minister said farmer cards were being distributed to create a digital database and ensure that government services reach farmers directly. The initiative aims to bring nearly 2.75 crore farmers under digital services nationwide.
He said agricultural mechanisation programmes were being expanded to reduce production costs, address labour shortages and increase farmers’ profitability.
The government is also working to increase the use of modern technologies such as remote sensing, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), drones, GPS, satellite data and big data in agriculture, he said.
According to the prime minister, these technologies will help monitor crop growth, identify diseases and pests, improve precision fertiliser use and irrigation management, and support scientific production planning.
He said the government was promoting data-driven precision agriculture to reduce farming costs and increase farmers’ incomes.
Efforts are also underway to ensure safe, balanced and nutritious food production through further development of the agriculture sector.
Tarique Rahman said the “Khamari App” has been introduced to provide farmers with information on suitable crops for different regions and seasons, fertiliser requirements, weather forecasts and other agricultural guidance.
He added that steps were being taken to reduce dependence on chemical fertilisers by promoting organic fertilisers, biofertilisers and environment-friendly farming methods.
The government is also working to make agriculture climate-smart and more resilient to the effects of climate change, he said.
The prime minister expressed hope that the initiatives would help make the country’s agriculture sector more productive, technology-driven and sustainable while strengthening food security and contributing to economic growth.
