Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has approved the Agricultural Tubewell Solarization Project, a significant initiative aimed at reducing the energy costs for farmers and promoting sustainable agriculture.
In a meeting on Friday morning, chaired by the chief minister, key details of the project were discussed and outlined.
It was decided that farmers owning 25 acres will be eligible for the Agricultural Tubewell Solarization Project. Under this initiative, farmers will be required to pay only 33% of the cost for solarizing their tubewells, with the remaining 67% being covered by the government.
According to the details, in the first phase of the project, 7,000 tubewells will be converted to solar energy. The second phase, which will involve the participation of the federal government, aims to solarize an additional 10,000 tubewells.
The meeting was briefed that currently, the cost of running a tubewell with diesel is approximately Rs3,000 per acre, while using electricity costs around Rs1,500 per acre. In contrast, irrigating one acre with solar energy will cost only Rs50, significantly reducing the financial burden on farmers.
During the meeting, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz emphasized the importance of this project in addressing the high electricity costs faced by farmers and in providing them with solar panels. She highlighted that moving away from diesel and expensive electricity would decrease the overall cost of crop production, benefiting the agricultural sector.
The meeting also included a directive to prepare a special package for vegetable farmers and to devise a sustainable system for the supply management of essential vegetables such as tomatoes and onions. Maryam also ordered to devise a sustainable system of supply management of tomato, onion, and other essential vegetables.
Maryam Nawaz expressed her commitment to solving the issues faced by farmers, stating, "If the farmer is prosperous, then Punjab will be prosperous."
She reiterated the government's dedication to improving the agricultural sector and ensuring the well-being of farmers across the province.
The Agricultural Tubewell Solarization Project is expected to have a profound impact on the agricultural landscape of Punjab, promoting eco-friendly practices and enhancing the economic viability of farming in the region.
