Context

• The government will provide Kisan Credit Card (KCC) to 1.5 crore dairy farmers belonging to milk unions and milk producing companies within the next two months (1st June-31st July 2020) under a special drive.
• The special drive to provide KCC to 1.5 crore dairy farmers is part of the Prime Minister’s Atma Nirbhar Bharat package for Farmers.

Details:

• The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying in association with Department of Financial Services has asked all state milk federation and milk unions for implementing the scheme on a mission mode.
• Under the dairy cooperative movement, approximately 1.7 crore farmers are associated with 230 milk unions in the country.
• The target is to cover all farmers who are members of dairy cooperative societies and associated with different Milk Unions and who do not have KCC.
• Farmers who already have KCC based on their land ownership, can get their KCC credit limit enhanced, though interest subvention shall be available only to the extent of Rs 3 lakhs.

What is Kisan Credit Card (KCC)?

• A credit scheme introduced in August 1998 by banks to extend credit facilities to farmers.
• Scheme was prepared by the NABARD on the recommendations of R.V. GUPTA committee to provide term loans for agricultural needs
• Participating institutions include all commercial banks, Regional Rural Banks, and state co-operative banks.
• The scheme has short term credit limits for crops and term loans.

KCC offering credit to the farmers is of two types:

1.Cash Credit

2.Term Credit (for allied activities such as pump sets, land development, plantation, drip irrigations).