LAHORE: As many as 350,000 farmers of Punjab got subsidy on fertilizers and 100,000 farmers benefited from subsidy on seed during FY 2019-20 under the Punjab smart subsidy and national subsidy programmes aimed at boosting the per acre yield of different crops.

In this regard, Rs 2,089 million were disbursed in FY 2019-20 through e-voucher under fertilizer, cottonseed, oilseed and chickpeas and lentil seed.

Sources in the Punjab agriculture department said the government of Punjab under the smart subsidy and national programmes was providing subsidy on phosphatic and potassium fertilizers and seeds of wheat, cotton, rice, sunflower, canola, moong, sesame etc.

Funds for these products were available under both the schemes. However, due to the significant rise of demands of any specific product, the shortage of funds was observed and that was timely mitigated. Monitoring of subsidy programmes has been made wherein farmers having land record computerized in PLRA were paid promptly and the remaining will be paid soon after passing through the subsidy process.

The sources further said that Director-General Agriculture (Ext & AR) Dr Anjum Buttar had issued instructions to Director & Deputy Director (Ext) to complete verification of e-vouchers as early as possible otherwise they will have to face disciplinary action. Meanwhile, a spokesman of the department has also appealed to farmers to verify their unpaid e-vouchers at the earliest so that payment against these vouchers will be made.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020