Lahore: The Punjab government is set to launch the second phase of its Kissan Card scheme on May 15, with a focus on providing interest-free loans to farmers in the province for the upcoming Kharif season. The initiative, aimed at supporting the agricultural sector, comes with an allocation of Rs75 billion, providing significant financial relief to farmers.
Under this phase, farmers will receive interest-free loans, with 30% of the loan available as cash and 25% earmarked for the purchase of diesel. This move is designed to ease the financial burden on farmers and facilitate their operations during the Kharif season, which is critical for crop production.
In addition, the Punjab Minister for Agriculture & Livestock revealed that a proposal for extending interest-free loans to farmers owning 8 to 10 acres of land will be presented to the Chief Minister for approval. To encourage timely repayments, farmers who settle their previous loans on time will also receive a support package of Rs5,000 per acre.
The government has made significant strides under its agricultural reform programs, including the Green Tractor Programme. In the first phase, 9,250 out of the 9,500 tractors planned for distribution were successfully delivered to farmers. The second phase of the Green Tractor Programme is now under consideration, which will provide 10,000 to 20,000 locally manufactured tractors on subsidy.
Additionally, 80% of the construction work for Model Agriculture Malls in Sahiwal, Multan, Bahawalpur, and Sargodha has been completed. A proposal is being reviewed to build 10 more malls in the next phase, which will serve as one-stop centers for farmers to access various agricultural services.
The Chief Minister’s Smog Control Programme also made progress, with the completion of the first phase of Super Seeder distribution. By the rice harvesting season in September, a total of 5,000 super seeders will be provided to farmers across the province.
To further strengthen Punjab’s agricultural capacity, the High-Tech Financing Programme will provide 1,000 modern agricultural machines to farmers on subsidy in the next fiscal year, with Rs30 billion allocated for this initiative. Farmers and service providers will also have access to interest-free loans of up to Rs50 million for purchasing equipment, repayable over five years.
In a boost to the cotton industry, early cotton sowing has been completed on 840,000 acres of land in Punjab. For farmers cultivating 5 acres or more, a Rs25,000 special incentive package has been approved. Triple gene cotton varieties are also being made available to ensure quality production.
Secretary Agriculture Punjab emphasized the adherence to timelines under the CM’s Kissan Package and highlighted that the success of the early cotton sowing campaign is a direct result of coordinated field efforts and the support packages offered by the government.
With these progressive steps, the Punjab government aims to further empower farmers, enhance agricultural productivity, and contribute to the province’s economic growth.
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