Get Rs 5,000 an Acre to Hire a Super Seeder in Punjab Instead of Burning Stubble
Punjab pays rice farmers Rs 5,000 an acre, up to Rs 25,000, to hire a super seeder in 23 districts. Book on the PCAP portal or app. See the steps and districts.
Short answer: Punjab is paying rice farmers Rs 5,000 an acre, up to Rs 25,000, to hire a super seeder instead of burning paddy stubble. Register and book a machine on the Agriculture Department's rental portal, kissanmadadgar.agrimech.gop.pk, or its Android app, "PCAP Rental Services". The offer covers 23 rice districts this season.
The Punjab Agriculture Department announced online registration in a press release dated 2 October 2026, under the Punjab Clean Air Programme. We read that release and opened the portal on 10 October 2026.
One warning first. The web address printed in the release is misspelt as "agrimec". That address does not load. The working one is agrimech, with an h, and we confirmed it opens.
Rs 5,000 an acre for using a super seeder, up to Rs 25,000
The subsidy pays part of the rent when a rice farmer hires a super seeder to sow wheat straight into the paddy field. The rate is Rs 5,000 an acre, with a ceiling of Rs 25,000. That ceiling works out to 5 acres per farmer, on our arithmetic.
A super seeder is a tractor-drawn machine that cuts the rice stubble, mixes it into the soil and sows wheat in lines, all in one pass. Fertiliser goes in close to the seed. The department says this saves the cost of separate field preparation and keeps the residue out of the fire.
| Item | What the official sources say |
|---|---|
| Programme | Punjab Clean Air Programme (PCAP) |
| Who | Rice farmers in 23 listed districts |
| Subsidy | Rs 5,000 an acre, up to Rs 25,000 |
| For | Using a super seeder on paddy fields |
| Where to register | kissanmadadgar.agrimech.gop.pk or the PCAP Rental Services app |
| Helpline | Agriculture Helpline 0800-17000 |
The super seeder subsidy covers 23 rice districts
The 2 October release names these districts. If yours is not on the list, the subsidy is not offered there this season.
- Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang and Chiniot
- Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad and Wazirabad
- Gujranwala, Sialkot, Narowal, Sheikhupura and Nankana Sahib
- Lahore, Kasur, Okara, Sahiwal and Pakpattan
- Multan, Lodhran, Khanewal, Vehari and Bahawalnagar
These are the main rice belt and the districts where smoke from burning stubble is worst in October and November. That is the point of the scheme.
How to book a super seeder and claim the subsidy
The portal works like a booking site. Machine owners list their super seeders, and farmers book one for a date. The portal says verified operators then come to the field.
- Open kissanmadadgar.agrimech.gop.pk, or install "PCAP Rental Services" from the Google Play Store.
- Sign up as a farmer through the login page. Keep your CNIC and a mobile number in your own name ready.
- Search for a super seeder near your village or tehsil.
- Choose the day, time and acreage, and send the booking request.
- Let the operator sow your field, and keep the booking record on your phone.
- If the booking or subsidy does not go through, call 0800-17000 with your CNIC.
The portal and release do not spell out how the Rs 5,000 reaches you, whether as a discount on the rent or as a later payment. Ask the operator and the helpline before the machine starts work, so the rate you pay is clear.
Book early. Wheat sowing on irrigated land runs mostly through November, and the wheat sowing dates for Punjab show the best window is short. Every farmer in a village wants the machine in the same fortnight.
Machine owners can list a super seeder for free
The portal has a second side. Anyone who owns a super seeder, happy seeder, baler or similar machine can register it as a firm. The portal says registration is free, and listed firms get bookings and payments through the system.
For a farmer who already bought a super seeder on an earlier subsidy, this is a way to earn rent this season. The portal does not publish the rent rates firms may charge, so agree the price in the booking.
Burning paddy stubble is a punishable offence in Punjab
The Agriculture Department repeated on 5 October 2026 that burning rice residue is a punishable offence under Punjab law, and that action can be taken against farmers who do it. Burning also kills soil organic matter and adds to smog.
The department gives three ways to handle stubble without fire:
| Method | When to use it |
|---|---|
| Super seeder | Sow wheat directly into the stubble, with the Rs 5,000 an acre subsidy |
| Rotavator | After a hand harvest, to mix residue into the soil |
| Disc harrow, or plough with half a bag of urea an acre and water | After a machine harvest, so the residue rots in the field |
The fines and how to report a burning field are set out in crop burning rules in Punjab. On a smoggy day, the official readings on Punjab's air quality site show why the province is paying farmers to stop.
Common questions
How much is the super seeder subsidy in Punjab?
Rs 5,000 an acre, up to Rs 25,000 per farmer, under the Punjab Clean Air Programme.
Where do I register for the super seeder subsidy?
On kissanmadadgar.agrimech.gop.pk or the PCAP Rental Services app. The "agrimec" spelling in the press release does not work.
Which districts get the super seeder subsidy?
23 rice districts, including Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Lahore, Kasur, Okara, Faisalabad and Multan.
Is burning rice stubble illegal in Punjab?
Yes. The Agriculture Department says it is a punishable offence and action can be taken.
Can I rent out my own super seeder?
Yes. Owners can register the machine as a firm on the same portal, free of charge.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
We read these pages, and opened the portal, on 10 October 2026.
- Punjab Agriculture Department, press releases of 2 and 5 October 2026 (in Urdu)
- PCAP Rental Services portal, Agriculture Department Punjab
The subsidy payment method and any closing date were not published on either page. We will update this page if the department adds them.
About the author
Tax, Bills and Technology Writer
Ali Akhtar is a young and curious voice here at Pakistan Era. He is currently pursuing his A-Levels and has a growing interest in Pakistan’s changing industrial landscape and educational trends. Ali likes to write in a way that helps him explain and explore the world around him. His writing reflects the perspective of the new generation navigating the evolving trends of Pakistan where technology, youth innovation, and shifting opportunities are reshaping the country’s future.
