LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that Rs100 billion would be utilised on the development of agriculture sector and welfare of farming community during next two years.

He expressed these views while talking to assembly members belonging to various districts in Punjab Assembly Chamber, yesterday. He said that out of this amount Rs 50 billion will be spent in the coming financial year whereas Rs 50 billion will be utilised in the next fiscal year.

The chief minister said that the purpose of this historic agri package is uplift of agri sector and betterment of farmers. He said that farming community will fully benefit from the splendid agri package of billions of rupees. He said that reduction in prices of fertilizers, power tariff of agri tube-well and agri implements will provide relief to the farmers in the real sense.

The chief minister said that federal and provincial governments have given a glorious package for the prosperity of farmers and its implementation will change the destiny of farmers while agriculture will flourish. He said that Punjab government will give interest free loans to small farmers having up to 12.5 acre of land.

“The Punjab government will pay markup on these loans and no burden will be put on cultivators. A sum of five billion rupees has been allocated for cotton research as production of quality cotton seed is need of the hour to increase agri production. A comprehensive strategy is also being adopted for provision of quality seed to cultivators,” he added.

Shehbaz Sharif said that a historic agri package of 100 billion rupees has been announced first time in the history of the country and its implementation will result in uplift of agri sector and prosperity of farmers. He said that it will be ensured that the benefits of agri package should reach the farmers.

The chief minister said that the target of the government is to increase per acre yield and prosperity of small farmers. He said that the agri package will also make up the losses caused by recession at the international level. He said that agriculture is the backbone of national economy and Punjab government has taken revolutionary measures for the development of agriculture sector and prosperity of farmers.

He said that the goal of national prosperity can be achieved through development of agriculture, livestock and dairy farming. He said that promotion of agri technology can help in strengthening of these sectors.

The chief minister said that development of agriculture, livestock and dairy farming is essential for elimination of poverty and unemployment form the country. He said that besides research and development, transfer of the results of agri research to farmers is of vital importance.

Assembly members while paying tributes to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif for given a historic agri package for the welfare of cultivators and development of agri culture sector said that that they have won be hearts of farmers.