Farmers from across the country seek solutions to various agricultural problems through the Agricultural Call Center. Photo: BSS

By AKM Rashed Shahriar

DHAKA, July 2, 2026 (BSS) – The government's ‘Agriculture Call Centre’ has received more than 92,000 calls last year, reflecting growing confidence among farmers in technology-based agricultural advisory services and increasing role of digital platforms in improving farm productivity.

The call centre, operating under the short code 16123, received a total of 92,094 calls between July 2025 and June 2026, providing farmers with instant expert advice on crop cultivation, pest and disease management, fertiliser application, weather-related issues and modern farming technologies.

For many farmers, the service has become a lifeline.
Jahangir Alam, a farmer from Khalishaduli village under Maishadi Union in Chandpur Sadar upazila, sought help after his crops suddenly began to deteriorate. 

Following the advice provided by agricultural experts through the call centre, he applied the recommended solutions in his field and successfully recovered his crop.

Similarly, Saddam Hossain of Mangalbaria village in Pakundia upazila of Kishoreganj also turned to the ‘Agriculture Call Centre’ when his crops faced problems. He too found effective solutions through the service.

AIS data showed that the highest number of calls during the reporting period was recorded in April 2026, when the centre received 10,141 calls. The number remained high in May with 9,903 calls and June with 8,576 calls.

In contrast, call volumes were comparatively lower at the beginning of the year. The centre received 4,926 calls in January, 5,315 in February, and 6,571 in March. 

Officials attributed the subsequent increase to the Boro harvesting season and heightened agricultural activities across the country.

Monthly statistics for the second half of 2025 showed that the centre received 8,040 calls in July, 8,089 in August, 8,416 in September, 7,409 in October, 7,986 in November, and 6,722 in December.

Officials concerned said the Agriculture Call Centre has emerged as an important service platform, enabling farmers to consult agricultural specialists directly without travelling to extension offices.

Operated under the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), the service is particularly beneficial for rural farmers, providing immediate technical support and helping them make informed decisions in crop management.

Agricultural experts believe information-based digital services are becoming increasingly important for addressing climate change challenges, boosting agricultural production and ensuring food security.

They also noted that the steady rise in call volumes indicates increasing awareness among farmers and greater acceptance of modern, technology-driven agricultural practices, while pointing to the potential for expanding digital agricultural services in the future.

“The continuous increase in the number of calls demonstrates that farmers have developed confidence in this technology-driven service. We are working to provide prompt and accurate solutions so that farmers can improve productivity at the field level," Deputy Chief Information Officer of AIS Shamim Hossain told BSS here recently.

Shamim added that there are plans to further expand the service and strengthen its technological capacity so that farmers in remote areas can benefit more easily.

AIS Director Md. Mosihur Rahman said Agriculture Call Centre has already secured its place as a timely and effective government initiative for the farming community.

“Through this technology-based service, farmers receive quick and accurate advice, which plays a significant role in increasing production and reducing risks. We are continuously working to improve service quality in line with farmers' needs,” he said.

He added that the government remains committed to making the service more modern, accessible and extensive to further strengthen the country's agriculture sector.

Director General of the Department of Agricultural Extension Md. Abdur Rahim told BSS that information technology-based services have become indispensable for building a modern, sustainable and productivity-oriented agriculture sector.

“The ‘Agriculture Call Centre’ has gained widespread acceptance among farmers by allowing them to receive immediate advice from experienced agricultural experts while staying at home. This helps reduce production costs, control crop diseases and make timely farming decisions,” he said.

He said that while the DAE continues to expand agricultural extension services at the grassroots level, the call centre has become a powerful platform for delivering coordinated information quickly across the country's vast rural areas.

The DAE chief said such digital services are particularly important for addressing the impacts of climate change, promoting new technologies and ensuring safe food production.

He added that initiatives are underway to further expand the call centre by increasing skilled manpower, incorporating advanced technologies and enriching its knowledge database so that farmers in even the most remote regions can receive quality agricultural advice more efficiently.

Rahim expressed hope that the government's initiative would contribute not only to higher agricultural production but also to improving farmers' livelihoods and strengthening the country's food security.