Punjab govt distributes tractors among top wheat growers

Punjab government has distributed prizes among the top wheat growers at provincial and divisional levels under the Punjab Chief Minister's 'Grow More Wheat' campaign, reported 24NewsHD TV Channel.

Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Punjab, Ashiq Hussain Kirmani, Usama Khan Leghari and Secretary Agriculture Punjab, Iftikhar Ali Sahoo attended the ceremony.

Muzaffar Mehmood from district Jhang achieved the first position for achieving the wheat yield of 69.96 maunds per acre across Punjab and won an 85 horsepower four-by-four tractor. The second position was achieved by the farmer of district Kasur, Muhammad Afzal on provincial level achieved the wheat yield of 69.87 maunds per acre and won an 75 horsepower tractor.

Shahid Abbas Khan from Dera Ghazi Khan achieved the third position by achieving the wheat yield of 69.72 maunds per acre and won an 60 horsepower tractor. Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani distributed the keys and documents of the tractors among the successful farmers of wheat production competition on provincial level. Minister of Agriculture Punjab launched the application portal for the second phase of Green Tractor Program.

Minister Ashiq Hussain said that the serving and prosperity of the farmers is at the top of the priorities of the Chief Minister Punjab, and according to the vision of CM Punjab, the farmers are introduced with the latest machinery facilities. The process of receiving the applications for 75 horsepower and 125 horsepower tractors for the second phase of the Green Tractor Program begins today.

The agriculture minister said that 10 thousand tractors will be provided to farmers on subsidy in the second phase of the green tractor program, and there will subsidy of Rs 10 lakh on each tractor provided to farmers in second phase of green tractor program. Under the leadership of CM Punjab, several projects are being implemented under the Punjab Agricultural Transforming Program. 

Ashiq Hussain also said that the government has also implemented interest free loan schemes for medium and long term, provision of tractors and establishment of Agri malls to facilitate farmers. The government has also provided Rs 75 billion to farmers through Kisan Card under Wheat Support Program, and also given 1000 tractors free of cost to the farmers planting more than 12.5 acres of wheat in the province. The CM Punjab also increased the prize money for the winning farmers in wheat production competition on district and provincial level, and also CM Punjab will announce the package of Rs 100 billion to support the farmers before the next wheat harvest.

Iftikhar Ali Sahoo said that the government is taking steps to promote farm mechanization in the province, they also has launched several programs to reduce the cost of crop production and provide quality agricultural inputs.

The provincial minister of agriculture also distributed certificates among the officers who showed outstanding performance at the ceremony. The officers which showed outstanding performances also include DG Agriculture (Extension), Chaudhry Abdul Hameed, DG Agricultural Information Punjab, Naveed Asmat Kahloon.