In a landmark move, Punjab’s Chief Minister, Maryam Nawaz, has greenlit the ‘Nawaz Sharif Kisan Card’, a significant stride towards agricultural reform. This decision made during a high-level meeting chaired by the Chief Minister herself, focusing on the transformation of Punjab’s agricultural landscape.
The meeting deliberated on a legislative proposal to curb the conversion of agricultural land for residential use, and the restructuring of key agricultural bodies – the Punjab Seed Corporation and the Punjab Agricultural Research Board.
The highlight of the meeting was the approval of the ‘Nawaz Sharif Kisan Card’. This initiative aims to empower farmers by providing them with easy access to loans. A whopping Rs150 billion will disbursed to 500,000 farmers within a year, offering them the financial support they need to purchase high-quality seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides. Each farmer can avail an agricultural loan of up to Rs30,000 per acre.
The Nawaz Sharif Kisan Card is not just about financial aid; it’s also about subsidies. The government plans to offer various types of subsidies through this card, further easing the financial burden on farmers.
In collaboration with the private sector, the government plans to set up model agriculture centers across Punjab. These centers will equipped with modern agricultural machinery and offer training programs. They will also provide farmers with access to pesticides, seeds, and model plots.
In the initial phase, a model agriculture center will established in each district of the province. This initiative expected to protect farmers from counterfeit fertilizers and medicines, ensuring they have access to quality agricultural inputs.
This comprehensive plan underlines the government’s commitment to revolutionizing Punjab’s agricultural sector and empowering its farmers.
