Lahore: Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s Eid gift to farmers, the biggest agricultural package in the history of Punjab has been prepared.
Senior provincial minister Maryam Aurangzeb released the details of the agricultural package. According to the package prepared by Punjab Agriculture Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Shah Kirmani, for the first time interest-free loans of 300 billion rupees will be given to the farmers of Punjab within 2 years, in which 80 percent of small area farmers and cultivators are included.
According to the package, another 100 billion rupees will be provided through subsidies, modern machinery and other various measures. In total, about 400 billion rupees are being invested in the agricultural sector of Punjab so that agriculture and farmers can develop.
Provincial Minister of Agriculture says that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz started 26 major development projects in 21 days after taking over the government. The government prepared a comprehensive development program in the agriculture sector in about one and a half months. Farmers will be happy with the historic plan of Chief Minister Punjab Agriculture Package. Modern agriculture, modern machinery, breeding of export quality milk and meat animals will start in Punjab.
He said that the goal of agricultural self-sufficiency will be achieved, it will help in reducing inflation. The revolutionary project of Nawaz Sharif Kisan Card is being launched. In the first phase, interest-free loans will be given to 5 lakh farmers. Small farmers holding less than 12.5 acres of land will get Nawaz Sharif Kisan Card.
30 thousand rupees will be given for each acre of land. 1.5 lakh rupees will be available to each farmer in terms of 5 acres. 5 lakh farmers will get 150 billion rupees in a year in the form of interest-free loans. This number of 5 lakh farmers will be further increased next year. 5 to 20 KW solar system will be provided, on which 60% of the cost will be borne by the government and 40% by the farmer.
According to the Minister of Agriculture, the construction of agricultural centers is being started, in which a one-window will be established. There will be banks in the agricultural center from which interest-free loans will be available. Punjab Bank Counter will be made for Nawaz Sharif Kisan Card. Apart from petrol pumps, agricultural machinery will also be available on rent at the agricultural centre. In the next 2 years, 8 thousand official skins will be matured.
Giving the details of the package, he further said that the construction materials will be provided by the agriculture department and labor farmers, in this scheme the government will bear 70% share and 30% farmers. Will introduce innovative methods of water efficient use and less water intensive cropping. Agricultural machinery systems are in place, 6 machines used for each crop will be available.
Within 2 years, owners of up to 25 acres will provide around 25,000 machinery to small farmers. 60% of the price will be paid by the government and 40% by the farmer, the machines will be given by lottery. Agricultural universities will be further improved. Research centers are going to be restructured to increase production of wheat, cotton and rice.
The provincial minister said that according to the future needs, modern trends and standards, the research centers will be restructured so that the country’s needs are fulfilled and agriculture develops. Recruitment of unemployed agricultural graduates into the Farmer Education and Training Service Force is being started. The animals reared for milk and meat will be developed separately. Renovation of veterinary laboratories, state-of-the-art embryo lab is being built. 25 state-of-the-art mobile dispensaries equipped with modern facilities including ultrasound will start in 25 districts.
Work has been started on procuring latest machinery from abroad for the improvement of farmers and crops. 85 horse power tractors, rice sowers, modern wheat and rice harvesters will be brought. Instead of burning rice crop residue or stubble to eliminate smog, farmers will be given modern machines. Super seeder and 3000 shredder machines will be given to 5 thousand farmers of Punjab. In the first phase, 8 to 10 thousand machines will be given through lottery.
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