As many as 314,000 small farmers have been credited through E-Credit scheme aimed at financially empowering the growers to have sufficient sources to carry out agriculture. The provincial agriculture department is disbursing loan of Rs 40,000 per acre for Kharif season during the current financial year. A spokesman of the agricultural department said the provincial government has also decided to include farmers having land up to 50 acres in this E-Credit Scheme.
"This scheme has been infused a fresh blood into the dead veins of Agriculture sector since its inception. Provincial Govt is taking solid measures for the socio-economic uplift of farmers and has revolutionised the agriculture sector. Small scale farmers and tenants have benefited from the scheme in a big way as they found sufficient resources for sowing their crops," the spokesman added.
Under this E-Credit scheme farmer can get loan from Akhuwat, National Rural Support Program (NRSP), Telenor Bank, National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) and Zarai Taraqiyati Bank of Pakistan (ZTBL). He further said this interest free loan contribute a great deal towards achieving 5.75% growth rate in agriculture sector. Under this scheme, Government of Punjab will provide interest free loans to farmers having up to 25 acre agricultural land where farmers will get loan on subsidized rates.
For this scheme, farmers will have to visit offices of Land Record Management and reproduce their original CNIC, mobile numbers and other details of their land. Spokesman further said Punjab Govt has also provided smart phones to registered farmers under Khadim-e-Punjab Kissan Package and they will get information about loan status through smart phone app. Farmers may contact with Agriculture Helpline 0800-15000 & 0800-29000 to get more details about E-Credit scheme, the spokesman concluded.