Introduction
For a small farmer in Punjab, the hardest part of every season often comes before sowing: finding money for seed, fertilizer and pesticide without falling into the hands of a commission agent (arhti) who charges heavy interest. The Kissan Card Punjab, launched under the Chief Minister of Punjab in 2024, was created to solve exactly this problem.
Through this card, eligible farmers receive an interest-free loan that they can spend on farm inputs at registered dealers. Registration is simple and free: you only need your CNIC and a mobile SIM registered in your own name.
In this guide, we explain what the Kissan Card is, who can apply, how much loan you can get, which documents you need, and how to register step by step through SMS 8070.
Note: EduRozgar is not an official government website. Loan limits and rules of this scheme are revised from time to time, so always confirm the latest details from the official Agriculture Department of Punjab or the Bank of Punjab before applying.
What Is the Kissan Card Punjab?
The CM Punjab Kissan Card is a digital card issued by the Bank of Punjab (BOP) to registered farmers. The Punjab Agriculture Department runs the scheme with the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB), and verifies each applicant through NADRA, the Punjab Land Records Authority (PLRA) and the credit bureau.
The card is loaded with an interest-free crop loan. Farmers use it like an ATM card at registered dealers to buy inputs for their crops.
Key features at a glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Launched by | Government of Punjab (Agriculture Department) |
| Card issued by | Bank of Punjab (BOP) |
| Type of support | Interest-free seasonal crop loan |
| Loan rate | Rs 30,000 per acre |
| How to register | SMS “PKC space CNIC” to 8070 |
| Registration fee | Free (the Rs 1,000 processing fee was abolished in Phase II) |
| Helpline | 0800-17000 (Agriculture Department) |
How the scheme has grown
- Phase I (2024): Launched in June 2024 for farmers owning 1 to 12.5 acres. The loan was Rs 30,000 per acre for up to 5 acres, a maximum of Rs 150,000 per season.
- Phase II (approved July 2025): The Chief Minister approved Rs 100 billion in interest-free loans through 628,000 Kissan Cards. Farmers with up to 25 acres became eligible, the processing fee was removed, and diesel was added to the items the card can buy. Officials reported a 99 percent loan recovery rate in Phase I.
- Phase II plan for 2026–27: Agriculture Department development plans list financing of up to Rs 360,000 per cropping season for around one million card holders. Treat this as the planned maximum; the amount each farmer actually gets depends on land size and the current policy.
Benefits of the Kissan Card
- Interest-free loan: Farmers pay back only the amount they used. There is no markup, unlike loans from arhtis or private lenders.
- Money for farm inputs: The card can be used to buy certified seed, fertilizer (DAP, urea) and pesticides from registered dealers. Under Phase II, diesel was also added.
- No processing fee: Registration through 8070 is free, and the Rs 1,000 processing fee was abolished in Phase II.
- Loan based on land size: Support is calculated at Rs 30,000 per acre, so every eligible farmer gets help in proportion to the land he cultivates.
- Repeat loans every season: Farmers who repay on time become eligible again for the next season. For example, the Agriculture Department told card holders in 2025 that those who repaid before 30 April would get a fresh loan from 1 May.
- Transparent and digital: Each transaction is recorded and the farmer receives SMS alerts, which reduces the role of middlemen.
- Freedom from arhtis: With money in hand at sowing time, farmers are not forced to sell their crop early or at a low price to repay an agent.
Some reports say Phase II cards also allow a part of the loan (around 30 percent) to be withdrawn as cash for urgent farm needs. Confirm this with your Bank of Punjab branch, as the rule may differ by phase and season.
Kissan Card Eligibility Criteria
You can apply for the Kissan Card if you meet all of these conditions:
- Resident of Punjab: The scheme is only for farmers in Punjab. Farmers from other provinces are not eligible.
- Land between 1 and 25 acres: Your agricultural land must be recorded in your name in the PLRA (Punjab Land Records Authority) computerized record. In Phase I, the upper limit was 12.5 acres; Phase II raised it to 25 acres.
- Valid CNIC: Your national identity card must be valid and not expired.
- SIM in your own name: The mobile number you use for registration must be registered against your own CNIC.
- Clean credit record: You must not be a defaulter of any bank or microfinance institution. This is checked through the State Bank’s credit bureau (eCIB).
How much loan can you get? The loan is worked out at Rs 30,000 per acre, up to the limit in force for that season.
| Land you own | Calculated support (at Rs 30,000 per acre) |
|---|---|
| 1 acre | Rs 30,000 |
| 3 acres | Rs 90,000 |
| 5 acres | Rs 150,000 |
| 10 acres | Rs 300,000 |
| 12 acres or more | Up to the seasonal maximum (Rs 360,000 in the Phase II plan) |
The final amount is set by the government and the Bank of Punjab for each season. Check your approved limit by SMS or at your BOP branch.
Documents Required
Keep these ready before you register and when you visit the bank:
- Original CNIC (valid)
- Mobile phone with a SIM registered in your name
- Land record (Fard) showing your ownership in the PLRA record
- Your fingerprints for biometric verification at the Bank of Punjab branch
You do not need to pay anyone to prepare these documents. If your land is not yet in the computerized record, visit your nearest Arazi Record Centre (land record centre) first.
How to Apply for the Kissan Card (Step by Step)
Method 1: Register by SMS 8070 (easiest)
- Open the messages app on a phone whose SIM is registered in your own name.
- Type PKC, then a space, then your 13-digit CNIC number without dashes.
- Example:
PKC 3520212345671
- Example:
- Send the message to 8070.
- You will receive a reply confirming your registration. The system then checks your details with NADRA, PLRA and the credit bureau.
- If you are eligible, you will get an SMS telling you which Bank of Punjab branch to visit.
- Visit that branch with your original CNIC and complete biometric verification.
- The bank issues your Kissan Card and activates your loan limit.
Method 2: Through the Agriculture Office
If you face any problem with SMS registration, visit your nearest Agriculture Extension office in your tehsil. Staff there can guide you and help resolve land record or registration issues.
Method 3: Helpline
Call the Punjab Agriculture Department helpline 0800-17000 (toll free) to ask whether registration is open and to get help with your application.
Important: Registration is free. Nobody, including any agent, dealer or website, can get you a Kissan Card in exchange for money.
How to Check Status and Use Your Card
Check your status: Send the same message (PKC space CNIC) to 8070 again from your registered SIM. The reply tells you whether your application is under verification, approved, or rejected and why.
Using the card:
- Take your card to a dealer registered under the Kissan Card scheme. Thousands of seed, fertilizer and pesticide dealers across Punjab are registered.
- Pay with the card just like an ATM card. The amount is deducted from your loan limit and you receive an SMS alert.
- Under Phase II, diesel can also be bought at designated petrol pumps.
Repaying the loan:
- Repay the amount you used at any Bank of Punjab branch after your harvest, within the deadline given for that season.
- Timely repayment keeps your record clean and makes you eligible for a fresh loan in the next season.
Common reasons for rejection:
- Land not recorded in your name in the PLRA system
- SIM not registered on your own CNIC
- An outstanding default with any bank or microfinance institution
- Land outside the allowed range for that phase
Beware of Kissan Card Fraud
Scammers often target farmers with fake calls and messages. Remember:
- The government and Bank of Punjab never ask for a fee to register or issue the card.
- Never share your card PIN, OTP or CNIC photo with anyone on a call or WhatsApp.
- Official messages come from 8070 only. Ignore messages from ordinary mobile numbers claiming you have “won” a Kissan Card.
- Do not trust Facebook pages or websites that ask you to fill in a form with your personal details.
If you receive a suspicious call, report it to the helpline 0800-17000.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the code to apply for the Kissan Card? Send PKC, a space and your CNIC number to 8070 from a SIM registered in your name.
How much loan does the Kissan Card give? The loan is calculated at Rs 30,000 per acre. Phase I gave up to Rs 150,000 per season; Phase II plans for 2026–27 list up to Rs 360,000 per season. Your actual limit depends on your land and the current policy.
Is the Kissan Card loan really interest-free? Yes. Farmers only return the amount they used, with no markup.
Can tenant farmers apply? The scheme is mainly for landowners whose land is in the PLRA record. Tenant farmers should check with their district Agriculture Extension office about any provision for them.
Can farmers with more than 25 acres apply? No. The current upper limit is 25 acres.
Which bank issues the Kissan Card? The Bank of Punjab (BOP).
Is there any fee for registration? No. Registration is free and the processing fee was abolished in Phase II.
Conclusion
The Kissan Card Punjab is one of the most useful schemes for small and medium farmers in the province. It gives timely, interest-free money for seed, fertilizer, pesticide and diesel, and frees farmers from costly informal loans. If you own between 1 and 25 acres in Punjab, register today by sending PKC space CNIC to 8070, and always confirm the latest rules from official sources.
For more updates on government schemes like BISP and youth loans, keep visiting the Govt Schemes section on EduRozgar.
Official Links and Sources
- Punjab Agriculture Department: Kissan Card
- Punjab Portal: CM Kissan Card Scheme
- Bank of Punjab: CM Punjab Kissan Card
- PITB: Launch of digital farmer registration (June 2024)
- The Nation: CM approves Rs 100bn loan package, Kissan Card Phase II (July 2025)
- APP: Kissan Card holders urged to repay at Bank of Punjab
- FDP: Kissan Card Phase II 2026–27 plan
Disclaimer: EduRozgar is not affiliated with the Government of Punjab or the Bank of Punjab. This article is for information only. Please verify all details from official sources before applying.
Image Prompts (not part of the article)
Generate these with any AI image tool, add text in Canva, convert to WebP, and upload with the file name and alt text given. Do not use the real Bank of Punjab or government logo, or a photo of any real politician, to avoid copyright and impersonation issues.
| # | Place in article | Prompt | File name | Alt text |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Featured image (1200×630) | Wide banner, smiling Pakistani farmer in a white shalwar kameez and turban standing in a green wheat field in Punjab, holding a generic green bank card, golden sunlight, clean empty space on the left for a headline, realistic photo style, no text, no logos | kissan-card-punjab-2026.webp | Punjab farmer holding Kissan Card in wheat field |
| 2 | After “What Is the Kissan Card” | Flat vector illustration of a green debit card with a wheat and tractor icon, surrounded by icons of seed bag, fertilizer sack, pesticide spray and diesel can, light background, modern infographic style, no text, no logos | kissan-card-benefits.webp | Kissan Card can buy seed, fertilizer, pesticide and diesel |
| 3 | Eligibility section | Clean infographic style illustration, checklist with five tick marks beside icons of a map of Punjab, farmland plot, ID card, mobile phone and a shield, green and white color palette, flat design, no text | kissan-card-eligibility.webp | Kissan Card eligibility checklist for Punjab farmers |
| 4 | How to apply (SMS 8070) | Close-up of a Pakistani farmer’s hand holding a simple keypad mobile phone, screen showing a blank message being sent, blurred green crop field background, realistic photo, no readable text | kissan-card-8070-sms.webp | Farmer registering for Kissan Card by SMS 8070 |
| 5 | Using the card section | Pakistani farmer at a rural agri input shop paying with a green card at a card machine, bags of fertilizer and seed on shelves, warm natural light, realistic photo, no logos, no text | kissan-card-dealer-payment.webp | Farmer using Kissan Card at registered dealer |
| 6 | Fraud warning section | Flat illustration of a mobile phone showing a warning sign and a hooked fishing line over a card, red and orange alert colors, simple design, no text | kissan-card-fraud-warning.webp | Beware of fake Kissan Card calls and messages |
