Punjab Reaches 51% of Wheat Sowing Target as Cultivated Area Rises 7.7%

Punjab has completed 51 percent of its wheat cultivation target for the current season, according to the provincial Agriculture Department, which reported that the area sown so far is 7.7 percent higher than during the same period last year.

Officials briefed Agriculture Minister Ashiq Kirmani on Friday, stating that line sowing methods have been used across 51 percent of the cultivated area. The adoption of certified seeds has meanwhile reached 44 percent, a key indicator of seed quality that agricultural experts link to better yields.

Kirmani directed field teams of the Agriculture Department to actively assist farmers throughout the wheat cultivation campaign so that provincial targets can be met. He also stressed that quality seeds and fertilizers must remain available to farmers at officially notified prices, a longstanding concern in rural markets where input costs directly affect planting decisions.

The meeting also reviewed progress on paddy harvesting, measures to prevent crop residue burning, and initiatives under the provincial smog control programme, which ties agricultural practices to air quality management during the winter months.

On the financial side, officials said agricultural loans worth Rs. 100 billion had been approved for one million farmers under the fifth phase of the Kissan Card scheme. Of these, 818,000 farmers have already received credit facilities, while Rs. 26 billion in loans has been utilized so far.

The meeting was also updated on the Green Tractor Programme. Under its fourth phase, 1,840 tractors have been distributed to farmers, while the fifth phase will provide another 9,500 locally manufactured and imported tractors. The programme has received 305,000 applications, of which 188,000 have completed the verification process.

The figures point to a mix of progress and gaps: while sowing has outpaced last year, certified seed use at 44 percent and partial utilization of approved credit suggest room for stronger uptake as the season advances.