Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz sanctioned the ‘Nawaz Sharif Kisan Card Project’ to elevate the agricultural sector and farmers’ socio-economic status in Punjab.
Punjab Chief Minister chaired a meeting on agricultural reforms and announced the provision of loans to 500,000 small farmers. These loans, totalling Rs150 billion, will be distributed over a year.
Additionally, farmers can receive Rs30,000 per acre for seeds, fertilizers, and pesticide purchases. The Kisan Card will offer various subsidies to assist farmers further.
The meeting resolved to create model agriculture centres with private-sector support. These centres will supply modern farming equipment, training, and resources.
Approval was initially given to establish a modern agriculture centre in each district. Maryam Nawaz instructed the agriculture department to compile crop production and demand data. A state-of-the-art wheat, rice, and cotton research centre received the green light.
A board will oversee the Centre of Excellence’s administrative functions, linking it with regional universities. An R&D Centre will emerge at Agriculture University Faisalabad, a Rs 2 billion project aided by China.
Legislative amendments to relevant acts were proposed to combat counterfeit fertilisers and pesticides. The meeting also discussed reorganizing the Punjab Seed Corporation and the Punjab Agricultural Research Board, planning to modernize the Agriculture Extension Wing and recruit 500 agricultural graduates.
Farmers will receive 24,800 modern tools within two years, a Rs 7 billion investment. Attendees included Punjab Agriculture Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani and Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb.
