- Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif announced ten major initiatives for Punjab farmers in Lahore.
- Punjab will set up its first farmers’ bank, with zero markup on loans up to Rs 1 crore.
- The wheat support price of Rs 4,500 will be implemented and the Kisan Card loan rises by Rs 3,500 per acre.
- The package also covers a water theft campaign, canal cleaning and a special olive cultivation package.
LAHORE: Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif announced ten major initiatives for Punjab farmers on Wednesday, including the province’s first farmers’ bank and interest-free loans, officials said.
She met delegations of small, medium and large farmers from across the province in Lahore and discussed their issues with them, officials said. She assured the farmers that their suggestions and recommendations would be implemented gradually.
Farmers’ bank and cheaper loans
Under the package, Punjab will establish its first “Apna Kisan Bank” for farmers, officials said. Loans of up to Rs 1 crore will carry zero markup for farmers.
Loans of Rs 3 crore will carry two per cent interest, while loans of Rs 5 crore will carry five per cent interest, officials said. The Chief Minister said the Kisan Card was proof of her affection for the farming community.
Wheat price and Kisan Card rise
The Chief Minister announced that implementation of the wheat support price of Rs 4,500 would be ensured, officials said. A wheat procurement plan will be launched soon, with an online portal for digital processing.
The Kisan Card loan per acre will rise by Rs 3,500, from Rs 30,000 to Rs 33,500 per acre, officials said.
More than one million small farmers are already benefiting from the Kisan Card and Rs 17 billion in subsidy loans have been given to farmers.
Recovery from farmers has been almost 100 per cent, showing mutual trust between the government and farmers, the Chief Minister said.
She said digitisation had ensured that loans reached farmers on merit and middlemen could no longer hold farmers hostage as they did before the card.
According to the Chief Minister, fertiliser had neither been black-marketed nor had its price risen without reason during her tenure. The Kisan Card was started so farmers would not have to run around for fertiliser, seed and pesticide, she said.
Watch: Chief Minister announces ten initiatives for Punjab farmers
Water, canals and olive package
The campaign against water theft will continue across Punjab, officials said. Steps will also be taken for the desilting of canals so water reaches the tail end of every field.
Water theft is being handled strictly and every field will get water to its tail end, whether the farmer is small or large, poor or influential, the Chief Minister said.
“Water theft is being handled strictly and every field will get water to its tail end, whether the farmer is small or large, poor or influential.”
She said 400 mini dams are being built in Potohar and water channels across Punjab will be lined to stop wastage.
A special package was also announced for olive cultivation, officials said. The Chief Minister said Punjab’s olive is among the best in the world and subsidies are being given to encourage olive production.
Pakistan was also congratulated on becoming a permanent member of the International Olive Council, after earlier holding observer status, officials said.
Machinery, markets and field support
A mechanisation programme has been started to provide modern machinery to farmers on rent, officials said. An amount of Rs 70 billion is being given for hi-tech mechanisation and the Happy Seeder is in great demand.
As many as 25,000 tractors have already been given on subsidy and the number will be increased further over two years, the Chief Minister said.
Under the Green Tractor Scheme, 50,000 tractors are being given on subsidy and tractor manufacturing has picked up as a result.
Agro-processing parks are being built in Sargodha, Bhakkar, Khanewal and Okara so farmers get a better price for their produce, officials said. Grading, processing and storage facilities for mango, citrus, potato and other produce are being set up in the parks.
As many as 1,500 agriculture interns are working in the field at Rs 70,000 a month and mobile soil and water testing laboratories are being launched, officials said. In one year, 400,000 animals were fattened and 600,000 more cattle will be prepared this year.
Agriculture Minister Ashiq Hussain Kirmani said the agriculture budget had risen from Rs 15 billion to Rs 400 billion.
He said Punjab was setting up its first harvester assembly plant and tractor manufacturing plant and value-addition projects were being started to get farmers the best price for their crops.
The Chief Minister described Kirmani as not only her best minister but also a spokesperson for farmers, officials said. She said he understands farmers’ problems and needs well because he is a farmer himself.
Farmers praised the Kisan Card, describing it as the backbone of agriculture promotion and a game changer for the sector, officials said. The Chief Minister also appealed to farmers not to burn crop residue so smog could be eliminated.
She also cut a birthday cake with the farmers, who congratulated her on her birthday, officials said. She said Punjab is the country’s food basket, meeting 70 per cent of its food needs and the wheel of economic progress cannot run without Punjab’s farmers.
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