Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif launched the third phase of the CM Green Tractor Program on Saturday, congratulating the farmers selected for the scheme. The program aims to make tractors more affordable for small and medium farmers, helping them deal with rising machinery costs and improve farm productivity.
According to Provincial Agriculture Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani, around 427,000 farmers with up to five acres of land applied for Phase III. While only 20,000 tractors were distributed over the past 25 years, 31,000 tractors have been provided in the last two years alone, setting a new record.
Tractor prices have more than doubled over the last five years, making it harder for small farmers to buy them. To help farmers, the government prioritized providing agricultural machinery in 2024.
The first two phases of the program supplied 21,000 tractors. In this third phase, 10,000 more tractors, with 50 to 65 horsepower, will be given to eligible farmers. Officials said Punjab currently has only about 140 tractors per 10,000 acres, less than half the number in many other countries, showing the need for better access to farm machinery.