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ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh on Thursday approved a waiver of agricultural loans of up to Tk 10,000, including accrued interest, for an estimated 1.2 million farmers nationwide, the state-run news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) reported. According to BSS, the decision was taken at a cabinet meeting at the Bangladesh Secretariat, chaired by Prime Minister&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladeshi-pm-vows-to-establish-rule-of-law-equal-rights" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tarique Rahman</a>, following his directive to provide relief to small and marginal farmers. Under the measure, both the principal amount and the full accrued interest on such loans will be written off.&nbsp; Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani, briefing reporters after the meeting, said the waiver covers loans taken in the grain, crop, fisheries, and livestock sectors and fulfills a pledge made in the government&#39;s election manifesto. &quot;The main objective of this initiative is to ensure social security for poor and marginal farmers and strengthen the backbone of the country&#39;s agricultural sector,&quot; Ghani said. He added that funds previously allocated for loan repayments could now be used to purchase quality seeds or adopt modern irrigation technologies, enabling&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladesh-to-distribute-05m-farmer-cards-in-180-days" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">farmers</a>&nbsp;to begin the next cultivation season with renewed confidence. The Cabinet Secretary said that the waiver could ease rural inflationary pressures and help curb rural-to-urban migration in the near term, BSS reported. It is also expected to improve beneficiary farmers&#39; credit records, enhancing their ability to access fresh agricultural loans from banks at lower interest rates and reducing their dependence on high-interest informal moneylenders. According to Bangladesh Bank data cited by BSS, farmers owed approximately Tk 15,500 million in outstanding loans and interest to public, specialized, and private commercial banks as of Feb 25.&nbsp;

Bangladesh

At the prime minister’s directive, authorities will write off up to Tk 10,000 in outstanding agricultural debt and accrued interest, aiming to ease rural hardship, improve credit access, and support production nationwide, BSS reported.

Bangladesh approves farm loan relief for 1.2 million farmers

ISLAMABAD: The International Finance Corporation (IFC) announced on Tuesday its first Pakistani rupee-denominated investment in the country, a Partial Credit Guarantee of up to PKR33.6 billion (approximately US$120 million), to support the agriculture sector. The financing arrangement involves Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan providing long-term local currency funding to Engro Fertilizers Limited, one of Pakistan&#39;s leading fertilizer producers, according to a press release issued by IFC. The investment aims to strengthen Pakistan&#39;s agricultural value chain while addressing food security concerns in a country where the sector accounts for 24% of GDP, 70% of exports, and employs 40% of the workforce, IFC said. Strengthening agricultural resilienceThe financing will enable Engro Fertilizers to maintain continuous production of urea and other fertilizers through capital investments in facility maintenance and turnarounds, ensuring uninterrupted supply to meet national demand. The funding will also support farmer programs that complement the company&#39;s core operations. &quot;Using local capital to strengthen local value chains reflects our commitment to the country and our farmers &mdash; the backbone of Pakistan&#39;s economy &mdash; through reliable fertilizer production,&quot; said Ali Rathore, CEO of Engro Fertilizers. &quot;We are grateful to our partners, IFC and Standard Chartered Bank, for enabling us to advance this mission.&quot; Agriculture remains a cornerstone of Pakistan&#39;s economy but faces systemic challenges, including inefficient supply chains, rising input costs, and underfunded farmer programs. The financing from IFC and Standard Chartered is expected to address these gaps while leveraging rupee-denominated capital to improve operational resilience and long-term sustainability. Opening new financing pathwaysThe transaction marks a significant shift in development finance strategy by mobilizing domestic capital rather than relying on foreign currency, helping companies better manage currency and country risk. &quot;This investment reflects the strength of our partnership with Engro Fertilizers and Standard Chartered Bank and our shared commitment to provide innovative solutions in a sustainable manner,&quot; said Ashruf Megahed, Regional Industry Head, Manufacturing, Agribusiness &amp; Services, Middle East and Central Asia at IFC. &quot;Through this project, we are opening new pathways for local currency long-term financing that support growth and financial resilience in a sector vital to Pakistan&#39;s economy.&quot; The financing is backed by a first-loss counter guarantee from the IFC-Canada Facility for Resilient Food Systems, adding an additional layer of security to the investment. Rehan Shaikh, CEO &amp; Head of Coverage at Standard Chartered Pakistan, said the bank is committed to financing solutions that enable sustainable growth. &quot;This partnership reflects our shared vision of strengthening food security and supporting one of the country&#39;s most critical value chains,&quot; he said, adding that Standard Chartered is keen to replicate this structure across its network. By championing domestic currency financing, the project sets a precedent for future investments that strengthen key sectors while mitigating exposure to currency and country risk.

A farmer harvests wheat in a field on the outskirts of Lahore on April 15, 2025. (FILE/AFP)

Economy

IFC has announced its first PKR-denominated investment in Pakistan, supporting Engro Fertilizers with PKR33.6 billion through Standard Chartered. The funding strengthens fertilizer production, farmer programs, and the country’s agricultural value chain, enhancing food security.

Articles tagged with "Farmers"

Bangladesh approves farm loan relief for 1.2 million farmers

IFC, Engro launch Pakistan’s first local-currency investment