LAHORE: The Punjab government said on Monday that it has given a `total package` of Rs110 billion to farmers, counting in total cost of almost all the initiatives it has taken for the growers in the province.

Last week, the Maryam Nawaz administration had announced a Rs15bn relief package for the wheat farmers given the reports of falling wheat prices at the time of harvesting, and growers holding ralliesin different parts ofthe province.

However, On Monday, while presiding over a meeting, the chief minister approved a relief package worth Rs25bn for the wheat farmers under the `Wheat Farmer Support Programme`.

According to a statement issued by the government after the meeting, a recordtotal package of Rs110bn has been given to the farmers. The government, however, did not explain how much amount has been allocated for the wheat cultivators as fresh grants.

The government statement says the CM ordered to grant Rs5,000 per acre to each wheat farmer, allocating a total Rs25,000 for every five acres of wheat land.

She also directed to carry out a mandatory amendment to law, making the flour mills purchase at least 25 per cent of total wheat produced this season in the province.

The government has already announced an `Electronic Warehouse Housing Reset` policy and a notification inthisregardhasbeenissued.

The CM has directed the provincial agriculture minister to monitor the wheat procurement campaign.

`The Price Control Department willassist in the wheat procurement campaign and the Bank of Punjab will establish a credit line of Rs100bn,` it said.

The meeting was informed that wheat farmers purchased agricultural inputs approximately worth Rs55bn through Kisan Card. They were given a subsidy of Rs10bn on 9,500 tractors, while some 1,000 tractors were given free of cost to wheat farmers at a cost of Rs2.5 billion.

The farmers were also given a subsidy worth Rs8 billion for tube well solarisation, it was told.

`The farmers are being given a subsidy of Rs 8bn on 5,000 super seeders, the statement said.

It said the farmer who growsthe maximum wheat across the province will get an 85 horsepower (HP) tractor worth Rs4.5 million free of cost, while the first runnerup will get a 75 HP tractor worth Rs 4 million and the second runner-up will get a 60HP tractor worth Rs3.5 million.

The meeting was told that the farmers growing maximum wheat in each district will get Rs1 million each, the second position holders will get Rs800,000 and the third Rs500,000. `On the whole, farmers will get Rs104 million as a prize in the wheat growing campaign. An agriculture internship programme worth Rs1.25bn has been launched for the guidance of wheat farmers in Punjab.` As many as 1,000 interns will remain in the field for the facilitation and support of wheat farmers across the province, it was told.

`Farmers cultivating cotton will get Rs25,000 per block, worth Rs375 million,` it said.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee general secretary Farooq Tariq says the farmers needed Rs4,000 per maund wheat rate.