Punjab to launch farm mechanisation to boost agriculture

LAHORE:Punjab Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani chaired a consultative meeting on the Chief Minister’s High-Tech Farm Mechanisation Programme at Agriculture House on Wednesday.

The meeting was attended by Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture Usama Khan Leghari, Secretary Agriculture Punjab Iftikhar Ali Sahoo, and the President of Bank of Punjab, who participated via video link.

Kirmani stated that the Chief Minister is committed to transforming the agriculture sector, with over Rs400 billion allocated under the ‘Transforming Punjab Agriculture Programme’. He emphasised that promoting agricultural mechanisation is a top priority to enhance productivity and support farmers.

During his recent visit to China, the Chief Minister expressed a keen interest in agricultural mechanisation, highlighting that Pakistan’s mechanisation level stands at only 35%, compared to 70% in Europe.

To bridge this gap, the Punjab government plans to launch agri-rental services at the tehsil level under the Green Pakistan Initiative Programme. To support small and medium-scale farmers, the government is considering interest-free loans of up to Rs50 million under the Chief Minister’s High-Tech Financing Programme.

These loans will be offered to service providers, importers, manufacturers, and farmer groups for purchasing agricultural machinery. Stakeholders are being consulted to incorporate practical suggestions into the upcoming budget.

Secretary Agriculture Punjab Iftikhar Ali Sahoo stressed that achieving production targets is impossible without modern machinery. Under the new programme, 25 types of agricultural machinery will be made available for rent through service providers to promote mechanisation.

Additionally, agricultural universities and the Agricultural Extension Department will collaborate to offer practical training for machinery operators and farmers. The meeting was attended by Special Secretary Agriculture Agha Nabeel Akhtar, Additional Secretary Agriculture (Planning) Captain (retd) Waqas Rasheed, Deputy Secretary Planning Kashif Bashir, and other officials, along with agricultural machinery importers, service providers, and manufacturers.