Lahore: The Punjab government has announced that the “Kissan Card,” a program designed to provide farmers with interest-free loans, will officially start on October 15, 2024. The initiative targets farmers owning between 1 to 12.5 acres of land, offering loans from PKR 30,000 to PKR 100,000 to assist with sowing operations.

According to Zameen.Com, the announcement was made by Punjab Minister for Agriculture Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani during the inauguration of the Kissan Card distribution in Faisalabad. Kirmani highlighted the program’s goal to facilitate the purchase of essential agricultural inputs like seeds and fertilizers through a network of 2,160 registered dealers province-wide.

The scheme, underlined as a significant advancement in agricultural support by the Chief Minister of Punjab, is set to revolutionize farming prosperity in the region. Agriculture Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahoo noted the formation of special teams to verify eligibility manually in regions without computerized systems, ensuring that all potential beneficiaries are reached. Additionally, 137 delivery centers have been set up at the tehsil level to distribute the cards.

The Kissan Card will also act as a unique identifier, granting farmers access to various government subsidies. On this occasion, Kirmani also discussed the Chief Minister’s Green Tractor Scheme, which aims to distribute 9,500 tractors through a transparent balloting system, supported by Rs. 9.5 billion in subsidies.

Following the event, the officials visited the Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, where they reviewed advancements in crop research. Dr. Sajid Rehman, Chief Scientist at the institute, reported the development of over 705 new crop, fruit, vegetable, and herb varieties, poised to significantly boost regional agricultural output.