Lahore: In a significant move to enhance the agricultural sector, the Provincial Minister for Agriculture and Livestock, Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani, presided over a high-level meeting at Agriculture House. The meeting reviewed the progress of initiatives aimed at boosting the prosperity and development of farmers in Punjab, aligning with the vision outlined by the Chief Minister.
According to Directorate General Public Relation – Govt of Punjab, the meeting highlighted several key developments, including the submission of over 327,000 online applications by farmers for the Chief Minister Punjab Kissan Card. Of these, more than 130,000 applications have been forwarded to the Bank of Punjab for approval. Additionally, the registration of dealers for fertilizer, seed, and pesticide companies is underway, with 3,000 dealers already registered.
During the meeting, directives were issued to ensure the strict adherence to the timelines of the Kissan Card Project and to monitor the number of requests from farmers daily. The Provincial Agriculture Minister also emphasized the importance of addressing any queries or issues farmers might have through a dedicated helpline, ensuring timely resolution of their concerns.
Further discussions focused on the ongoing Chief Minister Green Tractor Scheme, with over 500 applications received and major tractor manufacturing companies engaged. Additionally, plans were laid out for a live dashboard to monitor all schemes under the Transforming Punjab Agriculture plan and the development of a live portal for the recruitment of 1,000 agricultural graduates.
The session also covered the distribution of 4,000 super-seeders among farmers to aid in smog control and the enhancement of vegetable and pulse cultivation in the province. The Secretary of Agriculture, Punjab, Iftikhar Ali Sahoo, noted that the preparation of 1,000 super seeders is nearly complete and their distribution will commence shortly.