Bangladesh Bank has set a record target of Tk 60,000 crore for agricultural and rural lending in the 2026–27 financial year, marking a sharp 53.85 per cent increase from the previous year’s target of Tk 39,000 crore.
The new target was announced on Monday, 17 August, at a press conference held at Bangladesh Bank’s headquarters, where Governor Md Mostaqur Rahman unveiled the new Agricultural and Rural Credit Policy and Programme for the financial year.
According to Bangladesh Bank, the expanded lending target is intended to strengthen agricultural production, support farmers and improve the flow of finance to rural areas. The central bank said the initiative is also expected to contribute to food security, inflation management, employment generation and poverty reduction.
The Tk 60,000 crore target represents the largest year-on-year increase in the agricultural and rural credit target in recent years. In 2025–26, the target stood at Tk 39,000 crore, compared with Tk 38,000 crore in 2024–25. The latest increase therefore represents a significant expansion in the volume of institutional credit expected to reach farmers and rural borrowers.
Agricultural and Rural Credit Targets
| Financial year | Lending target | Change from previous year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024–25 | Tk 38,000 crore | — |
| 2025–26 | Tk 39,000 crore | Tk 1,000 crore |
| 2026–27 | Tk 60,000 crore | Tk 21,000 crore |
| Increase in 2026–27 | 53.85% | Record rise |
Agricultural credit plays a central role in financing crop cultivation, livestock, fisheries and other income-generating activities in rural communities. Timely access to formal loans can help farmers purchase seeds, fertiliser, machinery and other essential inputs without relying excessively on informal sources of finance.
Bangladesh Bank said the higher target reflects the need to ensure adequate financing for agricultural activities and encourage investment across the rural economy. Greater availability of institutional credit is expected to support production capacity while helping farmers respond to rising input costs and changing market conditions.
The central bank also linked the policy to broader economic objectives. By improving access to finance for agriculture and rural enterprises, policymakers expect the programme to support employment and household incomes while strengthening domestic food production.
The scale of the new target highlights the authorities’ renewed emphasis on agriculture as a key component of economic stability and food security. Effective implementation, including timely and accessible lending to genuine farmers and rural borrowers, will be crucial to translating the ambitious target into tangible benefits.
