LAHORE, Mar 29 (APP): Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Friday gave approval to the ‘Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Kisan Card Project’ aimed at uplifting the agriculture sector and socio-economic condition of farmers in the province.
The CM presided over the meeting related to agricultural reforms here. She said that under the Kisan card 500,000 small farmers wo
uld be given loans on easy terms. This loan will be worth Rs 150 billion and given in one year. Farmers would also be given loans of Rs 30,000 for per acre land for purchase of seeds, fertilizers and pesticides.
Under the Nawaz Sharif Kisan Card different types of subs
idy would also be provided to farmers, she added. The meeting decided that model agricultur
e centres wo
uld be established with the cooperation of the private sector. Modern agricultural machinery, training, pesticides and seeds wo
uld be provided at these model agricultur
e centres.
The CM gave approval to set up a modern agricultur
e center in each district in the first phase.
Maryam Nawaz directed the agriculture department to formulate data related to production and demand of every crop. For research and development of wheat, rice, cotton, the meeting also gave approval for setting
up a state-of-the-art centre of excellence.
The meeting decided that a board would control administrative affairs of th
e centre of excellence
and research centre wo
uld be linked with regional universities while Research and Development Centre wo
uld be set up in Agriculture University Faisalabad with the cooperation of China at a cost of Rs 2 billion.
To stop the ssale of fake fertilizers and pesticides, an amendment wo
uld be made to the Agriculture Pesticide Act and Fertilizer Control Act. The meeting reviewed reorganisation of Punjab Seed Corporation and Punjab Agricultural Research Board. It decided to equip Agriculture Extension Wing with modern technology and to induct 500 agricultural graduates.
The meeting was told that farmers wo
uld be given 24800 modern equipment in two years which would cost Rs 7 billion. Punjab Agriculture Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani, Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and others attended the meeting.
