Muhammad Saleem

Farmers and experts believe the Punjab Kisan Card scheme will be a lifeline for growers struggling financially amid rampant inflation. However, they urge the government to ensure transparency, reports WealthPK. Under the scheme, the Punjab government is offering interest-free loans to the farmers. The registration process started in June last year, and the provincial government is pulling out all the stops to reach the farmers. Over 300,000 farmers from different localities have registered for the card so far. The registration process is underway. Talking to WealthPK, Dr. Khan from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, appreciated the Punjab government's initiative. "Our farmers are not in the loop about the banking systems, making them easy prey for the scammers.

It is the government's prime responsibility to save the farmers from swindlers. "We have observed a number of times that whenever the government offers financial aid for any segment of the society, fraudsters start hunting vulnerable people. Our farmers need financial assistance, as the current inflation is making it difficult to maintain their expenses. The policymakers should make the scheme a boon rather than a bane for them," he said. Chairing a review meeting recently, Secretary Agriculture Iftikhar Ali Sahoo disclosed the number of registered farmers and said the loans will be distributed on a "first come, first served" basis. An officer from the agriculture department told WealthPK that it's a whopping Rs300 billion scheme. Each qualified farmer will get an interest-free easy loan of Rs150,000. He assured that transparency in the scheme will remain the government's top priority and the crooks will face the music.

He urged the farmers to seize this golden opportunity so that they could focus on what they do best – farming. The Punjab government understands the issues plaguing the growers, and efforts are afoot to make things easier, he said. Dr. Khan said the farmers need funds to get rid of their old, worn-out tools. Owing to the old-fashioned tools, the growers are facing a decline in agricultural production, he added. He said after obtaining an easy loan, the farmers could easily purchase essential agricultural inputs like seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides. Because of high prices of such inputs, the farmers are being exploited by the middlemen year after year.

Ali Hassan, a progressive farmer, believes the scheme will significantly impact the day-to-day operations of the farmers. "Acquiring loans has always been an uphill task for the growers. The policymakers' statements indicate that the program will be a game-changer for the farming communities. However, time will tell if the scheme truly lessens the issues of farmers. "Irksome paperwork required to get a loan leaves the majority of farmers in the dark. However, the Punjab government has made the Kisan Card registration process easy for them. The cardholders will directly receive loans in their accounts. This facility will allow them to seize the moment and easily purchase essential items at the right time for planting and cultivation." Hassan advised the farmers to carefully read and understand the terms and repayment conditions of the scheme to avoid any financial loss or surprises in future.

Credit: INP-WealthPk