Islamabad, Feb 11: The Punjab government is planning to expand the Chief Minister Kisan Card scheme by extending its benefits to farmers who own up to 25 acres of land in the second phase.
This development was discussed in a high-level meeting held at the Bank of Punjab (BoP) Head Office, attended by Agriculture Minister Ashiq Kirmani and BoP President Zafar Masood. The discussion also included a proposal to enhance the per-acre loan limit, with the final decision pending approval from the chief minister.
During the meeting, Minister Kirmani recommended allowing farmers to utilize the 30% cash withdrawal facility of the Kisan Card for diesel purchases. Additionally, he suggested waiving transaction fees for purchases made through the card.
Another significant proposal was the introduction of a pilot project for cotton crop insurance under the Kisan Card scheme, alongside a disaster insurance plan for other essential crops. To ensure farmer participation in the second phase, he emphasized the importance of obtaining their consent via SMS.
Currently, 535,000 Kisan Cards have been approved for issuance. The scheme operates with a total budget of Rs54 billion, out of which Rs34.7 billion has already been allocated—86% of which has been utilized for fertilizer procurement.
To further support agricultural mechanization, BoP plans to supply advanced farming equipment worth Rs50 billion over the next three years. Under this initiative, farmers will be eligible for interest-free loans of up to Rs50 million to acquire both locally manufactured and imported agricultural machinery.
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Minister Kirmani also highlighted the urgent need to boost the availability of specialized machinery for rice and cotton cultivation. This initiative aims to enhance productivity and reduce manual labor costs for farmers.
The meeting concluded with finalizing the arrangements for the launch of the Green Tractor Programme, which the chief minister is set to inaugurate later this month. This initiative will provide farmers with modern tractors at subsidized rates, further strengthening Punjab’s agricultural sector.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahoo confirmed that the second phase of the Kisan Card scheme is scheduled to commence on May 16, aligning with the Kharif crop season. This expansion aims to provide financial relief to small and medium-scale farmers, ensuring better access to agricultural resources and boosting overall crop yield in the province.
