ISLAMABAD — Punjab has achieved 51 percent of its wheat cultivation target, with the area sown increasing by 7.7 percent compared with the corresponding period last year, according to the Punjab Agriculture Department. During a briefing to Agriculture Minister Ashiq Kirmani on Friday, officials reported that 51 percent of the cultivated area had been sown using line sowing methods.
The use of certified seeds has reached 44 percent so far. Support For Wheat Farmers Kirmani directed agriculture department field teams to actively support farmers throughout the wheat cultivation campaign to ensure that provincial targets are achieved. 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 being implemented under the provincial smog control program.
Rs 100 Billion Farmer Loans Officials informed the meeting that agricultural loans worth Rs 100 billion had 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. Under the fourth phase of the Green Tractor Program, 1,840 tractors have been distributed to farmers.