TAXILA: Under the Punjab Chief Minister’s Agriculture Transformation Programme, over 1,200 Kisan cards were distributed among farmers of six tehsils of Attock district on Saturday.

Under this programme, 27,122 cards are set to be distributed among the farmers of the district after balloting.

In this connection a simple but impressive ceremony was organised in the agriculture office on Saturday which was attended by a large number of farmers, peasants and officials of the agriculture department and notables of the area.

Deputy Commissioner Rao Atif Raza, while addressing the ceremony as chief guest said that the Punjab Chief Minister’s Kisan Card programme disbursement process has successfully been launched in the district.

Mr Raza said that the government’s historic initiative of Kisan Card will transform the agriculture sector in the province, making farmers prosperous.

He added that under the Punjab Chief Minister’s Agriculture Transformation Programme, exemplary measures were being taken for development and prosperity of farmers in the agricultural sector.

He stated that distribution centres had been established in all six tehsils of the district.

He said that 1,423 cards were distributed among farmers in Attock, 906 in Hazro, 1,041 in Hassanabdal, 3,985 in Fatehjang, 2,107 in Pindigheb and 2,635 in Jand.

He said initially, the main focus of the Kisan cards was to reduce the cost of production of farmers and make modern agriculture accessible and profitable for them.

He was of the view that Kisan cards would enable farmers to get fertilizers of different kinds, pesticides, and pure registered seed varieties of wheat, cotton, pulses including gram, and oilseeds like sesame, sunflower, and other crops at a highly subsidised rates.

Addressing on the occasion, director agriculture Dr Mohammad Javaid said that all Kisan Card distribution centres have proper sitting arrangements for farmers with all essential facilities.

He said that the registration process for Kisan Cards was being expanded on a daily basis according to the project timeline.

He confirmed that the registration process for the Punjab Chief Minister’s Kisan Card was progressing swiftly in Attock.

He said that having a Kisan Card is mandatory for availing benefits such as solar tube-wells, tractors, and concrete water channels. Farmers owning agricultural land ranging from 1 acre to 12.5 acres are eligible to register for the Kisan Card.

“Farmers can also avail low-interest loans easily and their crops would also be insured

using this card. Subsidy is also being provided on agricultural machinery and solar system,” he added.

Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2024