Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz, has given her approval for the Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Kisan Card during a dedicated meeting on agricultural reforms.
The Kisan Card initiative, aimed at benefiting small-scale farmers, will provide loans totaling Rs 150 billion annually under favorable conditions. Each farmer will be eligible for an agricultural loan of Rs 30,000 per hectare, facilitating the purchase of essential resources like seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides.
Furthermore, a range of subsidies will be offered through the Nawaz Sharif Kisan Card program. Collaborating with the private sector, the government plans to establish model agriculture centers equipped with modern machinery, training facilities, and demonstration plots to enhance agricultural practices.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has instructed the Agriculture Department to compile comprehensive data on crop production and demand. The meeting also focused on allocating resources for research and development in key crops such as cotton, wheat, and rice.
Additionally, plans were approved for the establishment of a cutting-edge center of excellence, which will be governed by a board and integrated with regional universities. A significant investment of 2 billion rupees will be made in setting up a research and development center at Agriculture University Faisalabad, in collaboration with China. The Pak China R&D Center will include facilities for genome research, germplasm resources, speed breeding, and climate change research.
To combat the proliferation of counterfeit agricultural products, amendments to the Agriculture Pesticides Act and Fertilizers Control Act are also on the agenda, ensuring the quality and authenticity of agricultural inputs.