Summary Prime Minister said reforms in agriculture sector was need of the hour.
ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) - Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has announced a relief package of over 341 billion rupees for the farmers.
The agriculture relief package was announced at Kissan Convention in Islamabad after approval by the federal cabinet today (Tuesday).
Addressing the gathering, he said the package envisages direct cash assistance to the farmers, relief in prices of agriculture inputs, provision of agriculture loans and simplying the procedure of loans.
The government is sincere in efforts to provide relief to farmers, he said.
The Prime Minister announced that the relief package has been divded in four parts.
He announced that Rs 40 billion will be spent for payment of cash grants to the small growers of rice and cotton. He pointed out that the growers of rice are facing uncertain situation due to slump in prices of the commodity in the international market.
He said the government has decided to give cash assistance of Rs 5000 per acre to the farmers having land of 12.5 acre. Twenty billion rupees will be spent on it and this amount will be shared by the federal and provincial governments.
The Prime Minister said floods and rains have caused heavy losses to the cotton growers. Therefore, the goverment has decided to give themm cash assistance of Rs 5000 on the pattern of rice growers.
He said farmers having less than 12 acre agriculture land will be provided interest free loans and insurance premium of crops will be paid by the government.
He said Rs 25 billion have been allocated to provide Urea to the farmers at reduced rates and directed the provincial governments to ensure implementation of old rate of Urea from next month.
PM Nawaz announced that interest free loans will be provided to the farmers for installation of solar tube wells or converting existing ones to the solar. He also announced power tariff concessions for the tube wells.
He said that over Rs 100 billion have been spent for the land acquisition of Diamer Basha Dam.
At the end, he urged the farmers to adopt progressive measures to increase agricultural productivity and their income.
