LAHORE: Punjab government is contemplating to equip its six lakh small farmers with android mobiles under Kissan Package with the objective of keeping them aware of weather updates and agriculture department’s plans and policies.
Punjab government is likely to make announcement of providing six lakh mobiles to the farmers in the upcoming budget. The android mobiles are being given to keep farmer updated on the utility and rates of agriculture inputs including seeds and fertilizers as well as of weather.
The mobiles will have apps which will update the farmers on latest agriculture technologies and incentives being announced by the Punjab government for farmers on daily farmers.
Punjab government is evolving policy in this regard that the farmers having maximum 12.5 acres of land will be eligible to get the Android Mobiles. Punjab government has earmarked Rs 50 billion for Kissan package and android mobiles to the small farmers are part of this package.
Moreover, Punjab government is also working on providing interest free loans to small farmers. Chief Secretary Punjab Cap (retd) Zahid Saeed informed that they are negotiating with the Asian Development Bank for loan while also engaged a number of local banks including Punjab Bank for providing interest free loans to small farmers.
He claimed that Punjab government would pay the interest against loans being given to the farmers by the banks.
