LAHORE: To encourage prompt financial compliance and farm mechanisation, four Punjab farmers were awarded brand-new tractors, five received motorcycles, and three were given mobile phones.
The farmers received these awards during a prize distribution ceremony under the fourth phase of the Chief Minister Punjab Kissan Card Programme here on Friday.
The rewards were distributed through a balloting process and honoured 420 farmers across the province who settled their loan instalments by Nov 5.
Officials announced that farmers who cleared their outstanding Kissan Card dues by Nov 15 would be entered into the next round of balloting for additional prizes worth millions of rupees.
Chief Guest Usama Khan Leghari, Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, stated that rewarding farmers who regularly repay their loans builds a disciplined repayment culture while promoting the use of modern agricultural machinery.
Highlighting seasonal support measures, Mr Leghari noted that the provincial government had set the wheat support price at Rs4,500 per maund and allocated Rs150 billion under the Kissan Card for wheat growers to purchase essential inputs during the Rabi season. An additional Rs17 billion in interest-free funding had been earmarked for DAP fertiliser purchases at Rs3,500 per acre.
He urged farmers to ensure timely row-sowing of wheat across maximum acreage using approved, certified seed varieties.
Special Secretary Agha Nabeel Akhtar called the Kissan Card a flagship initiative that resolves farmers’ cash flow needs, emphasising that full loan amounts are credited back to cardholders’ accounts within 48 hours of repayment.