Punjab Government Earmarks Rs 80 Billion for Agricultural Development

The Punjab government has put forward a proposition to allocate Rs 80 billion for agricultural development. This financial commitment aims to facilitate the execution of 37 initiatives, encompassing both new and ongoing projects, with 21 being newly introduced and 16 already in progress.

Allocation Breakdown

The existing projects are slated to proceed with a budget of approximately Rs 32.40 billion, while the proposed funding for the new projects is Rs 47.598 billion. Budget documents reveal that the ongoing schemes incorporate provisions for agricultural education and research, water management projects, and initiatives such as the soil survey of Punjab, Pest Warning and Quality Control, and the Agriculture Transformation Plan. Furthermore, six initiatives spearheaded by the Chief Minister will persist with an allocation exceeding Rs 16.984 billion.

New Schemes

The 21 fresh schemes involve diverse areas, including agricultural extension, agricultural mechanization, and agricultural research, along with crop reporting services and new initiatives under the Chief Minister’s directives.

Key Programs
  • Green Tractor Program: A proposed allocation of Rs 5.5 billion has been earmarked for the Chief Minister’s Punjab Green Tractor Program (Phase-II) for the upcoming financial year.
  • Hi-Tech Farm Mechanization Financing Programme: The Chief Minister Punjab Hi-Tech Farm Mechanization Financing Programme is estimated to cost Rs 9 billion over the next four years, with Rs 1.5 billion proposed for the next year.
  • Water-Efficient Agriculture Programme: The government intends to invest Rs 8 billion in a three-year water-efficient agriculture initiative, with Rs 2 billion proposed for the year 2025-26 in the initial phase.
  • Agricultural Farm Mechanization Project: Another three-year initiative, the Agricultural Farm Mechanization Project, has an estimated cost of Rs 7 billion, with a proposed allocation of Rs 0.7 billion for the first year (2025-26).
Government Initiatives

The government has emphasized its commitment to supporting farmers and improving agricultural practices to enhance yields and strengthen the rural economy. In line with this, “Model Agriculture Malls” have been established at a cost of Rs 1.1 billion in Bahawalpur, Multan, Sahiwal, and Sargodha. These malls are intended to serve as comprehensive resources for farmers, providing services such as credit access, agricultural inputs at regulated prices, mechanization and advisory services, quality control, and testing.

Under the Chief Minister Punjab Kissan Card schemes, 482,436 Kissan Cards were distributed to farmers, resulting in Rs 36.5 billion spent on agricultural inputs. Additionally, 1,050 farmers have received agricultural implements, including disc plows, chisel plows, and rotavators. For the Chief Minister’s Punjab High Power Tractor Programme, a proposed allocation of Rs 10 billion has been outlined for the year 2025-26.