CM reviews agriculture reforms, expands internship and mechanisation programmes

LAHORE, Jul 01 (APP): Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has said the province is undergoing a major agricultural transformation, with 900,000 Kissan Cards already distributed and the landmark target of one million cards set to be achieved by August 31.
Chairing a meeting of the Agriculture Department here on Wednesday, she reviewed progress on the Kissan Card programme, agricultural mechanisation, fertiliser supply, demand and market prices. The meeting was informed that interest-free agricultural loans amounting to Rs. 360 billion had been disbursed under the Kissan Card scheme, achieving a recovery rate of 99 per cent. Officials said another 50,000 farmers would be enrolled, enabling the government to complete the issuance of one million Kissan Cards by the end of August.
The CM approved the Thal Transformation Programme, which includes the construction of 1,000 water storage ponds and irrigation schemes, as well as the plantation of orange orchards on 10,000 acres in underdeveloped areas of Thal to promote horticulture and improve livelihoods. She also approved the design of 10 state-of-the-art Model Agri Malls to provide modern agricultural services and facilities to farmers across Punjab.
The meeting decided to induct another 1,500 agriculture graduates in the next phase of the internship programme. Officials informed the meeting that 3,000 graduates had already been engaged under the initiative, providing advisory services to farmers across 12 million acres. Around 30 per cent of the interns had secured permanent jobs after completing the programme, while the overall job placement rate stood at 50 per cent.
Reviewing the mechanisation programme, the meeting was informed that 280 advanced agricultural machines had so far been provided to farmers, while a target had been set to distribute 2,000 modern machines by June 2027. Officials also briefed the chief minister that 24,000 tractors had already been delivered under the Green Tractor Scheme with a subsidy of Rs1 million per tractor. Under the three-phase programme, 34,000 tractors are being distributed, with 41 per cent of beneficiaries receiving a tractor for the first time.
CM Maryam Nawaz said no previous government had provided tractors to farmers on such a large scale, adding that 50,000 subsidised tractors would be distributed over three years for the first time in Punjab’s history. She said farmers had been genuinely empowered through the government’s initiatives and noted that the tractor distribution process had been fully computerised to ensure transparency. Officials informed the meeting that physical verification of 12,650 tractors had been completed, with 99.7 per cent found in the field, while notices had been issued to the allottees of 35 tractors that were not located during verification.
The meeting was informed that around 80 per cent of the agricultural loans had been utilised for the purchase of fertilisers. Of the Rs116 billion allocated for Kharif crops, Rs62 billion had already been utilised, while 75 per cent of the Kharif loans had been spent on fertiliser purchases.
Officials also briefed the chief minister on ongoing water conservation measures, including the provision of 1,000 laser land levellers, conversion of farmland to high-efficiency irrigation systems, construction of 1,200 additional watercourses, establishment of 1,000 recharge wells in central Punjab and installation of high-efficiency irrigation systems over 11,000 acres in the Thal region. Under the Potohar Transformation Plan, 2,400 acres out of the planned 4,000 acres had been prepared for cultivation, while 1,000 water storage ponds had been established to conserve rainwater.
The meeting was further informed that 5,000 super seeders had already been distributed to farmers to discourage crop residue burning and reduce smog. Another 7,000 machines would be distributed this year, raising the total to 12,000 by October 2026.
Officials said Pakistan remained fully self-sufficient in urea production and that fertiliser prices in Punjab had remained stable between Rs4,400 and Rs4,500 over the past two and a quarter years due to effective government oversight.
The meeting was also informed that international audit firm KPMG would submit its impact assessment report on the Kissan Card programme by September 30, while efforts would be made to promote the initiative at the global level.