CM Kissan Card Scheme Punjab: Eligibility & Apply via SMS

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CM Kissan Card Scheme Punjab interest-free loans for fertilizer and seed 2026

The Government of Punjab, through the Agriculture Department in collaboration with the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB), has launched the CM Punjab Kissan Card — a comprehensive digital ecosystem that brings together multiple government systems (PLRA, PMD, NADRA, and the Bank of Punjab) under a single framework to give farmers fast, transparent, interest-free access to agricultural inputs.

In this guide, we explain what the CM Kissan Card Scheme Punjab offers, who is eligible, the loan amount, and the complete step-by-step process to register via SMS.

What Is the CM Kissan Card Scheme?

According to the official Punjab government portal, the CM Punjab Kissan Card is a government-issued tool that offers farmers interest-free loans from sowing to harvesting, simplifying access to essential agricultural inputs like fertilizers and seeds through authorized vendors. Each card is valid for six months and permits farmers to obtain up to Rs. 1.5 lac (150,000) per season, capped at Rs. 30,000 per acre. The scheme caters to landholders owning between 1 to 12.5 acres, and is estimated to cost the Punjab government approximately Rs. 9.5 billion per season.

The scheme builds on the Punjab government's earlier E-Credit Scheme (2016–17), which provided interest-free loans to over 500,000 small farmers. The Kissan Card expands on this by fully digitizing subsidies, enabling direct transfers, and improving financial inclusion through free SMS notifications on every transaction.

Loan Amount and Terms

  • Maximum loan per farmer per season: Rs. 150,000, calculated at Rs. 30,000 per acre for up to 5 acres (even if the farmer's total landholding is larger, up to the 12.5-acre eligibility limit).
  • Card validity: 6 months per season.
  • Loan funds can only be used to purchase approved agricultural inputs such as fertilizer and seed, through authorized vendors.
  • Initially, the loan facility is being provided to 500,000 farmers on a first-come, first-serve basis.
  • Free SMS notifications are sent for every transaction made using the card, to promote transparency.

Eligibility Criteria

According to the official Punjab government portal, applicants must meet the following conditions:

  • Must own agricultural land with a holding of up to 12.5 acres.
  • Must have a mobile SIM registered against their own CNIC, verified through the Pakistan Mobile Database (PMD).
  • Land record must be available and verifiable in the Punjab Land Records Authority (PLRA) system.
  • Farmer identity and land ownership are verified digitally through an interface between the PITB farmer registration database and PLRA records, along with verification from NADRA, PMD, and eECIB.

How to Apply for the CM Kissan Card

Registration for the scheme is carried out entirely online/via SMS — there is no need to visit an office in person for initial registration:

  1. Ensure your mobile SIM is registered under your own CNIC (this is verified against the PMD database).
  2. Send an SMS in the format PKC<space>CNIC to 8070 to begin your registration.
  3. Your identity and land ownership are verified digitally through PLRA, NADRA, PMD, and eECIB checks.
  4. Once verified, the Bank of Punjab issues you a Chief Minister Kissan Card.
  5. Use the card at authorized vendors to purchase fertilizer, seed, and other approved agricultural inputs, up to your approved loan limit.
  6. You will receive free SMS alerts for every transaction made on the card.

Why This Scheme Matters

By digitizing the entire process — from registration to verification to disbursement — the Kissan Card aims to eliminate reliance on informal moneylenders and middlemen, ensure farmers get inputs at fair, subsidized cost, and improve overall crop yield and productivity across Punjab. The scheme is part of a broader package of Punjab agricultural support initiatives, working alongside programmes such as the High-Tech Farm Mechanisation Programme, the Solarization of Agri Tubewells, and the Grow More Wheat Program.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What is the CM Kissan Card Scheme?
It is a Punjab government digital initiative that provides interest-free loans to farmers for purchasing fertilizer, seed, and other agricultural inputs, using a card issued by the Bank of Punjab.

Q2. How much loan can I get under this scheme?
Farmers can get up to Rs. 150,000 per season, calculated at Rs. 30,000 per acre for up to 5 acres.

Q3. Who is eligible for the CM Kissan Card?
Farmers who own agricultural land up to 12.5 acres, with land records verifiable in PLRA and a mobile SIM registered under their own CNIC.

Q4. How do I apply for the Kissan Card?
Send an SMS in the format PKC<space>CNIC to 8070 to begin registration; no in-person visit is required initially.

Q5. What can the loan amount be used for?
The loan can only be used to purchase approved agricultural inputs such as fertilizer and seed through authorized vendors — it cannot be withdrawn as cash for other purposes.

Q6. Is the Kissan Card loan really interest-free?
Yes, the CM Kissan Card is structured as an interest-free (Qarz-e-Hasna style) facility to reduce the financial burden on farmers.

Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only, based on the official Punjab government portal and the CM Special Monitoring Unit website. Loan limits, eligible landholding size, and registration methods may be updated between seasons — always verify current details through the official Punjab government portal or by contacting your local Agriculture Department office before applying.

Location: Pakistan

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