LAHORE: The Punjab agriculture department and representatives of the local tractor industry entered into an agreement here on Wednesday for the provision of 9,500 tractors to farmers under the Chief Minister’s Green Tractor scheme.

Under the agreement, Millat Tractors Company will provide 5,000 units and Al-Ghazi 3,700 units by March 2025 for the scheme.

The government has allocated a sum of Rs30 billion for the scheme, providing Rs1 million subsidy per tractor to be given to 9,500 farmers through balloting.

Owners of one to 50 acres of farmland will have the option to choose 50-85 Horse Power (HP) tractors of their preference.

Agriculture minister Ashiq Kirmani, who was present at the agreement signing ceremony, hoped the initiative would strengthen agricultural mechanisation, and enhance the farmers’ trust in the local tractor industry.

He called for local manufacturing of rice transplanters and harvesters and boosting the local production of over 85 HP tractors to save foreign exchange spent on their import. He added that there would be no compromise on the tractors’ quality.

Agriculture Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahoo said that 9,400 allotment letters have already been issued to the qualifying farmers.

CEOs of the tractor manufacturing companies expressed their full support for the initiative and acknowledged its positive impact on the local industry.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2024