The Punjab Agriculture Department claims the province has achieved more than 50 percent of its wheat cultivation target. According to officials, the area sown has increased by 7.7 percent compared to the same period last year.
During a briefing to Agriculture Minister Ashiq Kirmani on Friday, officials reported that 51 percent of the total cultivated area has been sown using line sowing methods. The use of certified seeds has reached 44 percent so far.
Minister Kirmani directed field teams to actively support farmers throughout the wheat cultivation campaign to ensure provincial targets are met. He also stressed that quality seeds and fertilizers must be available to farmers at officially notified prices. The meeting also reviewed progress on paddy harvesting, measures to prevent crop residue burning, and initiatives under the provincial smog control program.
Regarding financial support, officials informed the meeting that agricultural loans worth Rs. 100 billion have been approved for 1 million farmers under the fifth phase of the Kissan Card scheme. Of these, 818,000 farmers have already received credit facilities, while Rs. 26 billion in loans has been utilized.
The province is also expanding its machinery distribution. Under the fourth phase of the Green Tractor Program, 1,840 tractors have been distributed to farmers. The fifth phase will provide another 9,500 locally manufactured and imported tractors. The program has received 305,000 applications, with 188,000 of those having completed the verification process.
