The agriculture sector is the backbone of our economy and only with its development country can achieve prosperity. Punjab is called the food basket of Pakistan because 75 percent of the country’s grain needs are met by the province of Punjab. On February 26 last year, after being elected as the Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz Sharif approved the “Transforming Punjab Agriculture Program” worth more than 400 billion for the development of the agriculture sector in a short period of 11 months of her government. In addition, the current government has allocated a huge amount of Rs 64 billion in the budget of the financial year 2024-25 to achieve production targets, which is 250 percent more than the previous financial year.
Kissan Card
Under this program, according to the vision of the Chief Minister of Punjab, several projects for the prosperity of farmers, including the launch of Kissan Card, are included, which will prove to be a game changer for agricultural development and prosperity of farmers and our dream of agricultural self-reliance will be realized.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif inaugurated the launch of the Punjab Chief Minister Kissan Card in Hafizabad. Under the Punjab Chief Minister Kissan Card, interest-free loans worth Rs 150 billion are being provided to farmers with land holdings of 1 to 12.5 acres. During the current Rabi season, agricultural loans worth Rs 53 billion have been approved under the Kissan Card and so far, farmers in Punjab province have purchased more than Rs 34 billion, out of which 90 percent of the amount has been spent on fertilizer purchases.Farmers have also been provided with the facility of 30 percent cash withdrawal through the Kissan Card. Under the special orders of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Kisan Cards are being issued to 7.5 lakh farmers. This flagship program is the biggest project in the history of Bank of Punjab and the Department of Agriculture, under which more than 1.3 million farmers have applied online so far, while Bank of Punjab has so far confirmed 5,32,000 farmers for Kissan Card after scrutiny. 3,000 dealers have been registered across the province for the use of Kissan Card and purchases are being made through POS machines. The Chief Minister of Punjab is working day and night to improve the lives of farmers so that the cultivaters has not been faced any hardship. The Chief Minister of Punjab has clearly expressed in her address at Hafizabad that for the first time, the Punjab government has made such a policy that would not harm the farmers. Today, with the launch of this scheme, we have directly reached the farmers and they have been freed from the clutches of middlemen and intermediaries. Due to the successful policies of the government, the prices of seeds, fertilizers and agricultural medicines have decreased significantly, which will increase the profits of the farmers. For the convenience of the farmers, the process of registering process of farmers for obtaining the Chief Minister’s Kissan Card manually in non-computerized Mousaes is underway and special teams have been formed in this regard. Regular monitoring of purchases through Kissan Card is being done and strict action is being taken in case of any complaint.
Youth Agriculture Graduates Internship Program
Under the vision of the Chief Minister Punjab, the “Youth Agriculture Graduates Internship Program” has been started to provide employment opportunities, train young agriculture graduates, will provide technical guidance to farmers and make them aware of modern crop production technology. A huge amount of Rs 1 billion has been allocated for this program. Last year, 1,000 agriculture graduates have been recruited under this program, including 40 percent women. Under this internship program, each agriculture graduate is being paid Rs 60,000 per month for his services. The performance of agricultural graduates in field activities is being digitally monitored on a daily basis.
Green Tractor Program
To promote agricultural mechanization in Punjab province, the “Chief Minister Punjab Green Tractor Program” has been introduced after 12 years. A huge amount of Rs 30 billion has been allocated for this program and the largest subsidy in the country’s history has been provided to farmers. Under this program, a subsidy of Rs 1 million per tractor has been provided to farmers. During the first phase of this program, 1.5 million applications were received and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif herself inaugurated its balloting. Under this program, 9,500 farmers have been selected through a transparent balloting in the first phase, of which 65 percent are small farmers. Tractors have been delivered to 6415 lucky farmers who have succeeded under the Chief Minister Punjab Green Tractor Program. The Green Tractor Program will not only promote farm mechanization in the province but will also support the local tractor industry.
Smog Control Program
Under the Chief Minister Punjab Smog Control Program, 1000 super seeders have been distributed so far to the farmers at a subsidy of 60 percent with a huge amount of Rs 5 billion to destroy crop residues in a modern scientific way. Under this program, another 2,000 superseeders will be delivered in September this year.Last year, paddy residue was made useful on 110,000 acres by using superseeders, which helped in controlling smog.
Establishment of Model Agriculture Malls
4 model agricultural malls are under construction in Multan, Bahawalpur, Sargodha and Sahiwal with a huge amount of Rs 1.17 billion. In the model agricultural malls, quality seeds, fertilizers and agricultural chemicals will be provided to farmers at fixed rates. In the agricultural malls, modern agricultural machinery will be available to farmers on rent. The construction work of the model agricultural malls will be completed by June 30, 2025.
Solarization of Agriculture Tube Wells
Under the Chief Minister Punjab Solarization of Agriculture Tube Wells Program, 8 thousand electricity and diesel-powered tube wells will be converted to solar energy with a sum of Rs.9 billion. Under this program, subsidy of 5 lakh Rs. for 10 power (KW),7.5 lakh Rs.for 15 power(KW) and 10 lakh Rs.for 20 power (KW) will be given,while the remaining amount will be paid by the farmers themselves. Under this scheme,more than 5 lakh farmers have submitted online applications for the balloting will be held on 31 January 2025 by Chief Minister Punjab.
Steps for Promotion of Sesame, Soybeen and Canola
Steps are being taken to promote the production of oilseed and to increase the production of oilseeds and to increase the production of sesame, soybeen and canola to meet the country’s edible oil requirements. Under this program, an amount of 1 billion rupees has been allocated.
Restoration of Citrus
Under the vision of the Chief Minister of Punjab, an amount of 1.5 billion rupees has been allocated for the restoration of Citrus plantations in the province. Under this program Citrus Research Institute is being established in district Toba Take Singh on 749 acre land, while Citrus Research Station is also being set up in Layyah. Steps will be taken to increase the production of Citrus and for enhancing the exports.
Punjab government is taking priority steps for increasing the production of Tomoto and Onion under the farmers friendly policy. For the restoration of Cotton, comprehensive plan is being framed. Under this program , Bahawalpur will be transformed into Cotton Valley. Chief Minister Punjab has announced to provide 1,000 tractors free of cost through balloting to the farmers cultivating wheat on the area of more than 25 acres and 1,000 laser land levelers to the farmers cultivating wheat on an area of 12.5 to 25 acres.
Indeed, the Punjab government under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has initiated the process of reforms in the agricultural sector within a short period of time, the positive results of which will soon come in the form of agricultural development and prosperity of the farmers.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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