Latest news with #KissanCardPhase-II
Business Recorder
29-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Punjab disburses Rs84bn under Kissan Card Scheme
LAHORE: The Punjab government has disbursed Rs 84 billion out of the Rs 100 billion allocated under the Kissan Card Phase-II programme and farmers have so far utilized Rs 45 billion through these cards including Rs 31 billion for fertilizer purchases. The government has so far issued 628,000 Kissan cards under this flagship programme of the provincial government which aims timely provision of agricultural inputs to farmers. This was revealed at a high-level meeting held at Agriculture House, Lahore, under the chairmanship of Provincial Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani to review the progress of ongoing and upcoming initiatives under the Chief Minister's program to transform Punjab's agriculture sector. The Minister speaking at the meeting highlighted that Rs. 12 billion has been distributed to farmers under the wheat support program. In addition, 955 tractors have been handed over through a transparent balloting process. He announced that applications for the second phase of the green tractor program would open in August, under which 10,000 locally manufactured tractors of 50 to 65 horsepower will be offered with a subsidy of Rs. 500,000 each. Another 10,000 tractors, ranging from 75 to 125 horsepower, including both local and imported models, will be made available with a subsidy of Rs. 1 million each. Balloting for this initiative will be conducted at the tehsil level. Regarding infrastructure development, the Minister informed that construction of model agriculture malls has been completed in Sahiwal, Multan, Bahawalpur, and Sargodha. As many as 10 more such malls will be established in the second phase. He further announced that under the second phase of the agriculture graduates internship program, 2,000 additional graduates will be recruited, with applications open until August 8. Under the solarization of agri tube wells program, solar systems of 10, 15, and 20 kilowatts are being offered with subsidies of Rs. 500,000, Rs. 750,000, and Rs. 1,000,000 respectively. So far, 3,350 such systems have been installed across the province. In a move to address environmental concerns, the first and second phases of the smog control program for the distribution of super seeders have been completed. Ahead of the rice harvesting season in September, a total of 5,000 super seeders will be distributed, with priority given to villages near motorways for the delivery of 2,000 units. In a bid to modernize farming practices, the high-tech financing program will provide 11 types of modern agricultural machinery and implements to farmers on subsidy during the upcoming fiscal year. A total of 1,000 machines will be distributed under this program. A substantial Rs. 30 billion has been allocated to provide interest-free loans of up to Rs. 30 million to service providers and farmers for machinery purchases, repayable over five years. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
10-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
CM holds meeting on agri sector: Farmers to get loans worth Rs100bn through Kissan Cards
LAHORE: While according in-principle approval for the Phase-II launching of the projects of the Agriculture department, Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif also sought a plan for providing agricultural inputs to the wheat farmers at subsidized rates. The farmers will be given loans worth Rs 100 billion through 628,000 Kissan Cards in Phase-II. The Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif presided over a special meeting regarding the Agriculture Department which approved CM Special Projects Phase-II. Under the Agriculture Transformation Programme, 500 mini dams and 250 water reservoir projects were reviewed in Pothohar. It was agreed to provide interest-free loans worth Rs 100 billion under Kissan Card Phase-II. A detailed briefing was given on Green Tractor, Model Agriculture, Tube Well Solarization, Wheat Programme, Super Seeder, Citrus, Pothohar, Agri-Transformation and other issues. The chief minister underscored that wheat farmers will not be left alone, a new project will be launched before the crop is harvested. The meeting reviewed proposals for advance subsidy to reduce the input cost of wheat. Farmers owning up to 25 acres of land will be able to get diesel, fertilizer, seeds and agricultural chemicals through Kissan Card. On the direction of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the processing fee of Rs 1,000 has been abolished in Kissan Card Phase-II Project. The registration of 4,200 agricultural suppliers for Kissan Card Phase-II has been completed. The target of 99 percent loan recovery from farmers in Kissan Card Phase-I has been achieved. Under the Green Tractor Programme Phase-II, 20,000 tractors will be available on subsidy. The government will pay a subsidy of Rs 500,000 for 50 to 65 horsepower and Rs 1 million for 75 to 125 horsepower. The collection of applications for the Green Tractor Scheme will start in August. The manufacturing and distribution of green tractors will be completed in September. The chief minister directed continuous monitoring to ensure the presence of green tractors in the field. The CM Model Agriculture Mall Phase-II will be launched in 10 districts from July. Model Agriculture Malls will be built in Faisalabad, Jhang, Okara, Khanewal, Rajanpur, Vehari, Rahim Yar Khan, Sheikhupura, Attock and Mianwali. The CM directed to make Model Agriculture Malls functional in Multan, Sargodha, Bahawalpur and Sahiwal in July. It was informed in the meeting that under the Agri Internship Programme in Punjab, 1000 agricultural graduates have assisted two million farmers. Under the Agri Internship Programme Phase-II, training of 2000 agri interns will start in September and field service in October. CM Solarization of Agriculture Tube Wells received 7988 applications and 500 applications were rejected after physical verification was found to be fraudulent. Solarization of 7670 agri tube wells has been started and solarization of 652 tube wells has been completed. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
