
Bangladesh’s commercial banks have set an agricultural loan target of Tk 39,000 crore for the 2025-26 fiscal year, marking a 2.63 percent increase from last year’s allocation of Tk 38,000 crore. The decision aims to enhance agricultural production, ensure food security, and boost investment in the sector.
The new Agricultural and Rural Credit Policy and Program was formally announced on August 12 by Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur, in the presence of the director of the Agricultural Credit Department and chief executives of various commercial banks.
Key updates to the policy include increasing the allocation for the livestock sector to 20 percent, setting aside 2 percent for irrigation and agricultural machinery, waiving CIB service charges for loans up to Tk 2.5 lakh, expanding contract farming and agent banking, and introducing several new crops such as cucumber, taro stem, beetroot, black cumin, ginger, garlic, turmeric, and date molasses under the credit scheme. Additionally, banks have been instructed to distribute loans based on region-specific production potential.
The central bank expects that adequate financing in the agricultural and rural sectors will help increase crop production, curb inflation, create employment opportunities, and contribute to building a sustainable economy.