The Punjab government is extending subsidy on the purchase of DAP fertilizer in the province under Khadam-e-Punjab Kissan Package. As many as 5.2 million farmers in Punjab will be covered under this subsidy scheme. Spokesman for the provincial agriculture department said here on Monday, the government to ensure 100 percent transparency will use the voucher system which will be packed in the bag of DAP. He said that vouchers that are not packed with fertilizer bags have been blocked.

Nevertheless, only registered farmers can get advantage of this subsidy scheme and the registration process has been made very simple and transparent for farmers. Farmers have only to make a call on toll free numbers of Agriculture Helpline ie 0800-15000 & 0800-29000 and provide detail of their identity card and other required information to get them registered.

The spokesman further disclosed that any fertilizer dealer or any other person except registered farmer cannot get the subsidy money because it cannot be encashed without subsidy vouchers, ID Card and verification message. All such companies have been banned which, didn't act under law/policy of Government and their vouchers have also been blocked along with initiating investigation against them. When the voucher is attached with fertilizer bag, the chances of any impurity will be diminished, the spokesman claimed.

He further said that price fluctuation of fertilizer co-relate with international market. The Government of Punjab started to provide this subsidy scheme since July 2017 when different companies, at that time, were selling DAP bags at a rate from Rs 2, 638 to Rs 2, 670 per bag.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2017