MULTAN: A number of seed dealers assembled at a seminar organised by Punjab Seed Corporation (PSC) on Thursday to build their capacity on how to process Kissan Card holding farmers’ requests for quality seed and how to receive payments through the card under a revolutionary scheme promising Rs 150 billion per annum in-kind interest-free loan disbursement.
Kissan Card is a futuristic product launched by Punjab government and is a mandatory requirement for all farmers who wish to avail subsidy schemes through agriculture department, said deputy managing director (DMD) PSC Shamshad Waraich while addressing the seminar participants.
He said that PSC was organising training of seed dealers to benefit farmers so that they can start availing the facility soon after they receive their Kissan card, agriculture spokesman said in a statement.
Kissan Card would make quality agriculture implements like seed, fertilisers, pesticides or other products accessible to farmers instead of cash.
He disclosed that 275,000 farm
ers have so far applied online for Kissan Card and they would be issued cards after scrutiny in cooperation with the Bank of Punjab.
Director agriculture extension Sahiwal division Chaudhry Shahbaz said that Rs 400 billion program was the biggest ever in country for agriculture development. He said, almost 500,000 farmers would be extended interest-free loans and officials of agriculture extension were reaching out to farmers from village to village for their awareness.
Farmers should send message from their registered SIM to 8070 and the system at the back end would guide them through to registration. Farmers owning one to 12.5 acres land are eligible to apply for Kissan Card. Director farms PSC Sahiwal and Khanewal Malik Nadeem Ahmad Khan, Director PMU Shaibi Hassan, besides representatives of BoP, Fauji Foundation, seed dealers and farmers were present.