Punjab Kisan Card: Interest-Free Production Loans for Farmers
Punjab farmers buying seed, fertiliser and pesticide for a crop season can borrow interest-free through the Kisan Card. Agriculture Department Punjab runs the scheme with the Bank of Punjab, the Punjab Land Records Authority, NADRA and the Punjab Information Technology Board.
Launched in 2024 with a target of 500,000 farmers, the card now runs season by season. Each crop season brings its own cycle, so farmers should track the current season window rather than assuming a once-open card stays open forever.
Loan Limits by Phase
| Item | Phases 1 and 2 | Phase III |
|---|---|---|
| Loan per acre | Rs30,000 | Rs30,000 |
| Season cap per farmer | Rs150,000 | Rs300,000 |
| Acres covered by the cap | 5 acres | 10 acres |
| Repayment window | Within 6 months, one season | Within 6 months, one season |
| Interest | 0% | 0% |
Loans cover production inputs through registered dealers. Seed, fertiliser and pesticide purchases form the core use, while later-phase guides describe part of the amount as cash or diesel, up to around 30% cash in some phases.
A 28 October 2026 announcement raised the per-acre limit from Rs30,000 to Rs33,500 for DAP financing in the wheat season. Whether the season cap also rises alongside that per-acre change was not stated, so farmers should confirm the live cap before planning purchases.
Who Can Apply
- Punjab residents with agricultural land verified by the Punjab Land Records Authority.
- Landholding from 1 to 12.5 acres under general rules.
- Landholding up to 25 acres in select districts under Phase III.
- A mobile SIM registered in the applicant’s own name.
- No bank defaulter status.
- No overdue payments, which also matters for reward draws.
Land records decide eligibility before anything else. Farmers with errors in their land record should correct the record at a Land Record Centre first, since verification runs against that record automatically.
Where the Loan Can Be Spent
Production inputs form the core use. Seed, fertiliser and pesticide purchases through registered dealers qualify under the card. Buying from unregistered sellers risks rejection of the transaction, so farmers should confirm dealer registration before paying.
Later-phase guides describe part of the amount as cash or diesel, up to around 30% cash in some phases. Farmers should confirm the live cash portion for the current season, since cash rules vary by phase and the core purpose stays production inputs.
Season planning matters as much as the loan itself. Borrowing matches one crop season, with repayment due within 6 months. Farmers should borrow against a realistic input plan for that season, not against next season’s expected income, since the repayment window closes with the season.
How to Register
- Send the CNIC number by SMS to 8070, the registration route reported for the card.
- Alternatively, approach the Agriculture Department route for registration.
- Correct any land record error at a Land Record Centre before verification.
- Receive the card issued by the Bank of Punjab after verification.
- Check lists on agripunjab.gov.pk or kisan.punjab.gov.pk.
Helpline 0800-17000 covers queries about registration and limits. Dealer purchase queries go to the same helpline.
Seasons, Draws and Deadlines
- Rabi and Kharif seasons run as separate cycles.
- Phase III raised the season cap to Rs300,000.
- Phase IV held a lucky draw for timely repayers on 22 October 2026, ballot KC4001.
- 30 October 2026 marked the last date for Phase IV arrears.
Timely repayment carries a reward beyond the interest-free loan itself. Farmers who repay on time enter reward draws, while overdue payments block both future draws and fresh cycles.
Repayment timing decides the next cycle. Farmers who clear dues within the season keep the card active for the next cycle, while overdue balances block fresh borrowing and draw entry. Phase IV arrears had a last date of 30 October 2026, showing how strictly windows close.
Frequently asked questions
Rs30,000 per acre stands as the production loan rate, with a 28 October 2026 announcement raising it to Rs33,500 for DAP financing in the wheat season.
Rs150,000 per farmer per season applied in Phases 1 and 2, while Phase III raised the cap to Rs300,000 per season.
Registration runs through SMS, sending the CNIC number to 8070, or through the Agriculture Department route, followed by land record verification and card issuance by the Bank of Punjab.
Bank defaulters stand excluded, and applicants without Punjab Land Records Authority verified land cannot pass verification.
Lists appear on agripunjab.gov.pk and kisan.punjab.gov.pk, and helpline 0800-17000 handles queries.
Farmers planning wheat-season purchases should confirm the live per-acre limit and season cap on the Agriculture Department portal, since the October 2026 DAP announcement changed the per-acre figure without stating a new season cap.
