Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has announced Farmer Schemes as part of mega projects aimed at the socio-economic uplift of farmers, emphasizing their importance in the province’s development. During a review meeting of the Agriculture Department, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz detailed “We are introducing a series of Farmer Schemes such as Kissan Cards, Agricultural Mall Pilot Project, Green Tractor Scheme, Agriculture Graduates Internship, and Tube Well Solarization Projects to boost agricultural development.
And uplift the socio-economic conditions of farmers in Punjab,” Maryam Nawaz stated during a review meeting with the Agriculture Department. This meeting focused on assessing progress on these pivotal CM initiatives for the enhancement of the agriculture sector.
The chief minister revealed that the delivery of 40,000 Kissan Cards has begun, with distribution taking place through 136 agriculture centers across the province. “Farmers can now obtain Kissan Cards from agriculture offices in every Tehsil. These cards will enable them to purchase agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides for the upcoming wheat crop after 15 October 2024,” she explained. Over five lakh farmers are expected to benefit from this Farmer Schemes initiative, with each farmer able to secure loans ranging from Rs 30,000 to Rs1.5 lakh per acre, significantly easing their financial burden.
Additionally, Maryam Nawaz shared that the Agricultural Mall Pilot Project, another key aspect of the Farmer Schemes, will be initiated in four districts: Okara, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, and Sargodha. These agricultural malls will provide farmers with essential resources such as seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, agricultural goods, counseling services, and loans, thereby enhancing the accessibility of critical agricultural inputs.
Furthermore, under the CM’s Green Tractor Scheme, 10,000 tractors will be distributed annually, with the government offering a substantial subsidy of Rs 10 lakh on each tractor, making them affordable for small and medium-scale farmers. Applications for this scheme will open after the official launch on 20 September 2024.
The Farmer Schemes also include the Agricultural Tube Well Solarization Project, which is nearing completion. This project will assist farmers by subsidizing 50% of the costs associated with solarizing electric and diesel-powered tube wells, significantly reducing their operational expenses and promoting sustainable farming practices.
In her address, Maryam Nawaz also highlighted the success of the “Maryam Ki Dastak” initiative, which has expanded to 11 districts, offering over 60 services directly at the doorsteps of citizens, thereby alleviating the need to visit government offices.
In addition to these schemes, the Fresh Agriculture Graduates Internship Program has been approved, offering training to 1,000 agriculture graduates across Punjab. This program will commence next week and is designed to equip graduates with practical experience and skills necessary to drive the future of the agricultural industry.
The chief minister met with provincial ministers and parliamentary and administrative secretaries, urging them to include parliamentary secretaries in departmental meetings and to prepare five-year vision reports to ensure long-term planning and development.
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She emphasized the critical role of Farmer Schemes in improving the socio-economic conditions of the province’s rural population and criticized the previous administration for undermining decades of progress.
