The Punjab government has announced a wheat cultivation target of 16.5 million acres for the upcoming Rabi season, setting the support price at Rs4,500 per maund while expanding financial assistance, seed subsidies and agricultural incentives for farmers.
The Punjab government has announced a series of measures to encourage wheat cultivation, support farmers and strengthen national food security ahead of the upcoming Rabi season.
Provincial Agriculture Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani announced the provincial cultivation target of 16.5 million acres and the Rs4,500-per-maund wheat support price while chairing a review meeting at the Commissioner’s Office on Wednesday.
The measures include Rs150 billion allocated under the Kissan Card programme, Rs425 billion in interest-free loans disbursed over the past two and a half years, subsidised tractors and financial assistance for certified wheat seeds.
The government has also directed agriculture officials to monitor seed prices, prevent hoarding and profiteering, and take action against canal water theft.
Punjab Allocates Rs150 Billion Under Kissan Card Programme
Providing details of the government’s agricultural support initiatives, Kirmani said Rs150 billion had been allocated under the Kissan Card programme to help farmers purchase essential agricultural inputs.
He also reported that interest-free loans worth Rs425 billion had been disbursed to farmers over the preceding two and a half years.
The financial assistance is intended to improve farmers’ access to agricultural inputs and reduce the financial pressure associated with crop cultivation.
The minister also highlighted the distribution of 45,000 tractors at subsidised rates under the Green Tractor Scheme, which aims to improve farm mechanisation and agricultural productivity.
Rs450 Million Subsidy Announced for Certified Wheat Seeds
The Punjab government has also provided a subsidy of Rs450 million through the Punjab Seed Corporation to encourage farmers to use certified wheat seeds.
Under the announced pricing arrangement, approved 50-kilogram bags of wheat seed are to be sold at Rs7,000.
Kirmani directed agriculture department field officers to ensure that authorised dealers comply with the fixed price and that farmers receive seeds at the officially approved rates.
He also instructed the relevant authorities to monitor the availability and distribution of certified seeds throughout the province.
Lahore Division Receives 1.35 Million-Acre Wheat Cultivation Target
During the meeting, Secretary of Agriculture Punjab Shakeel Ahmad Mian presented details of the division-wise wheat cultivation targets for the upcoming season.
Lahore Division has been assigned a target of 1.35 million acres, representing an increase of 50,000 acres compared with the previous year.
The provincial target of 16.5 million acres reflects the government’s emphasis on expanding wheat cultivation and maintaining sufficient domestic production.
Agriculture officials are expected to monitor progress through field formations and coordinate with divisional and district administrations to achieve the assigned targets.
Government Orders Action Against Seed Overpricing and Canal Water Theft
The agriculture minister directed field officers to ensure that approved 50kg wheat seed bags are sold at the notified price of Rs7,000.
He also instructed authorities to take strict action against:
- Hoarding of agricultural inputs.
- Unjustified price increases and profiteering.
- Black marketing of wheat seeds and other essential inputs.
- Theft of canal water.
- Violations of officially approved seed prices.
The directions are intended to improve farmers’ access to quality agricultural inputs and prevent practices that could increase cultivation costs during the wheat-growing season.
Wheat Support Price and Farmer Assistance Aim to Strengthen Food Security
Wheat remains one of Pakistan’s most important food crops, making its production central to national food security and agricultural planning.
The provincial government’s cultivation target, financial assistance programmes and certified seed subsidies are intended to encourage farmers to allocate more land to wheat production.
The Rs4,500-per-maund support price is another important element of the government’s announced strategy, providing a price benchmark for growers when planning their cultivation decisions.
However, achieving the provincial target will also depend on farmers’ access to affordable fertilisers, quality seeds, reliable irrigation water and timely agricultural financing.
The government’s monitoring of cultivation targets and input prices will therefore remain important throughout the Rabi season.
What Punjab’s Wheat Policy Means for Farmers
The announced measures cover several major areas of agricultural support, including financing, mechanisation, seed availability and market regulation.
For wheat growers, the initiatives are intended to reduce some of the financial and operational challenges associated with cultivation.
The increased cultivation target also reflects the importance of maintaining domestic wheat supplies and reducing potential pressure on national food security.
The effectiveness of these measures will ultimately depend on their implementation, the timely availability of agricultural inputs and whether farmers can achieve sustainable production costs and returns.
With the upcoming wheat season underway, the Punjab Agriculture Department will be responsible for monitoring cultivation progress and ensuring compliance with the government’s announced measures.
