Punjab Finalizes Key Details of Kisan Card Phase-II

The Punjab government is considering expanding the Chief Minister Kisan Card scheme by including farmers who own up to 25 acres of land in its second phase.

This proposal was discussed during a meeting on Monday at the Bank of Punjab (BoP) Head Office between Agriculture Minister Ashiq Kirmani and BoP President Zafar Masood. The meeting also explored the possibility of increasing the per-acre loan limit, with the final decision to be made by the chief minister.

Minister Kirmani suggested that farmers should be allowed to use the 30% cash withdrawal facility provided through the Kisan Card for purchasing diesel. He also called for the removal of transaction charges on purchases made via the card.

Additionally, he proposed launching a pilot project for cotton crop insurance under the Kisan Card, along with a disaster insurance plan for other major crops. He emphasized the importance of obtaining farmers’ consent via SMS for participation in the second phase of the loan scheme.

So far, 535,000 Kisan Cards have been approved for issuance. The scheme has a total budget of Rs54 billion, of which Rs34.7 billion has already been utilized—86% of it spent on fertilizer purchases.

As part of the mechanization initiative, BoP will provide high-tech farm machinery worth Rs50 billion over the next three years. Farmers will be eligible for interest-free loans of up to Rs50 million to purchase both locally manufactured and imported agricultural machinery.

Minister Kirmani also underscored the need to increase the availability of rice and cotton farming machines.

The meeting finalized arrangements for the launch of the Green Tractor Programme by the chief minister later this month.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahoo announced that the second phase of the Kisan Card scheme will begin on May 16, aligning with the Kharif crop season.