Achi news desk-
LAHORE, (UrduPoint News / Pakistan Point – 29th Mar, 2024 ) Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Friday approved the ‘Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Kisan Card Project’ aimed at uplifting the agriculture sector and the socio-economic condition of farmers in the state
The CM presided over the meeting related to agricultural reforms here. He said that 500,000 small farmers would get loans on easy terms under the Kisan card. This loan will be worth Rs 150 billion and will be given in one year. Farmers would also get loans of Rs 30,000 for every acre of land to buy seeds, fertilizers and pesticides.
Under the Nawaz Sharif Kisan Card different types of subsidy would also be provided to farmers, he added. The meeting decided that model agriculture centers would be established with the cooperation of the private sector. Modern agricultural machinery, training, pesticides and seeds would be provided in these model agriculture centers.
The CM gave approval to establish a modern agriculture center in each district in the first phase.
Maryam Nawaz directed the agriculture department to compile data related to production and demand of each crop.
For wheat, rice, cotton research and development, the meeting also approved the establishment of a first class center of excellence.
The meeting decided that a board would manage the administrative affairs of the center of excellence
and a research center would be linked to regional universities while a Research and Development Center would be established at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad with the cooperation of China at a cost of Rs 2 billion.
In order to prevent the sale of fake fertilizers and pesticides, an amendment would be made to the Agriculture Pesticides Act and the Fertilizer Control Act. The meeting reviewed the reorganization of Punjab Seed Corporation and Punjab Agricultural Research Board. He decided to equip the Agriculture Extension Wing with modern technology and establish 500 agricultural graduates.
The meeting was told that farmers would get 24800 modern tools in two years which would cost Rs 7 billion. Punjab Agriculture Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani, Punjab Chief Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and others attended the meeting.
