LAHORE: Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Punjab Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani attended the Chief Minister’s High-Power Green Tractors Distribution Ceremony in Bahawalpur and distributed keys of tractors to the successful farmers.
On this occasion, the Minister said that 10,000 high-power tractors are being provided to farmers across Punjab on subsidy. He added that a subsidy of Rs. 1 million per tractor is being given under a Rs 10 billion scheme, while 1,299 tractors are being distributed in Bahawalpur Division alone. Kirmani stated that the Chief Minister of Punjab is providing generous resources to promote farm mechanization.
He further said that the Kisan Card is the government’s flagship programme, under which interest-free loans worth Rs 80 billion have been provided to more than 600,000 farmers so far. The Kisan Card has made it possible for farmers to purchase fertilizers, seeds, pesticides, and diesel conveniently.
Secretary Agriculture Punjab Iftikhar Ali Sahoo said that a Rs. 2 billion project is being implemented to transform Bahawalpur Division into a Cotton Valley. He added that under the guidance of the Chief Minister Punjab, the agriculture sector is being truly transformed.
Later, a review meeting on wheat cultivation was held at Circuit House, Bahawalpur, chaired by Minister for Agriculture Punjab Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani. The meeting was attended by Member Provincial Assembly Khalid Mahmood Babar Waran, Secretary Agriculture Punjab Iftikhar Ali Sahoo, Special Secretary Agriculture South Punjab Sarfraz Hussain Magassi, Deputy Commissioner Bahawalpur Dr. Farhan Farooq, and Directors General Agriculture Chaudhry Abdul Hameed and Naveed Asmat Kahloon. The Deputy Commissioners of relevant districts joined the meeting via video link.
Addressing the meeting, Kirmani said the federal and provincial governments will procure wheat at Rs. 3,500 per maund and 6.2 million metric tons of wheat will be purchased for strategic reserves. He added that the wheat cultivation target for the current season in Punjab is 16.5 million acres, while certified seed is available in the market at Rs. 5,500 per bag.
He further said that fertilizers are available in abundance at rates lower than the actual price, and farmers are being guided to cultivate approved and certified wheat varieties.
During the meeting, Deputy Commissioner Bahawalpur Dr. Farhan Farooq informed that the wheat cultivation target for the Bahawalpur Division has been set at 2.683 million acres.
Secretary Agriculture Punjab Iftikhar Ali Sahoo directed that the divisional and district administrations, along with the field formations of the Agriculture Department, should play an active and collaborative role in the wheat sowing campaign.
After the meeting, the Minister accompanied by Secretary Agriculture Punjab visited the Model Agriculture Mall Bahawalpur and reviewed the operational activities there in detail.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Comments
Comments are closed for this article.