67.59 Lakh Maharashtra Farmers Got Kisan Credit Cards, 3.35 Lakh In Queue: Govt

Last Updated:June 29, 2026, 14:59 IST

The minister said the government has taken up the issue with banks and directed them to speed up the issuance of KCCs

Around 3.35 lakh eligible farmers in Maharashtra are yet to receive Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) despite the government’s sustained push to expand institutional credit and reduce dependence on private moneylenders.

The shortfall was disclosed by the state government in the Vidhan Sabha on Monday in its written reply to a question asked by BJP MLA Samadhan Avatade from Pandharpur to Minister Babasaheb Patil.

Cooperation Minister Babasaheb Patil said that 67.59 lakh farmers have so far been issued Kisan Credit Cards through various banks, while nearly 3.35 lakh eligible farmers are still awaiting the facility.

The minister said the government has taken up the issue with banks and directed them to speed up the issuance of KCCs. The matter is also being monitored through the State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) and district-level banking committees to ensure that all eligible beneficiaries are brought under the scheme.

Patil, however, rejected allegations that the distribution of Kisan Credit Cards has slowed down or that banks are refusing to issue cards to eligible farmers. He maintained that the government is regularly reviewing the progress and following up with financial institutions to bridge the remaining gap.

The Kisan Credit Card scheme is one of the Centre’s key initiatives to provide timely and affordable institutional credit to farmers. Besides crop cultivation, the scheme also extends credit support for animal husbandry and fisheries, enabling farmers to meet both agricultural and allied sector expenses without relying on informal lenders.

The minister informed the House that crop loans under the scheme carry an interest rate of 7 per cent, which is effectively reduced to 4 per cent after the Maharashtra government’s interest subvention. He also clarified that, as per Reserve Bank of India norms, crop loans up to ₹2 lakh do not require any additional collateral, making institutional finance more accessible to small and marginal farmers.

Patil added that farmers can also apply for Kisan Credit Cards through the Centre’s JanSamarth Portal, which has been introduced to simplify and digitise the application process.

The government’s admission is significant as the Kisan Credit Card scheme remains one of the primary instruments for improving rural credit flow.

While a majority of eligible farmers have been covered, the fact that 3.35 lakh farmers are still outside the ambit of the scheme underlines the challenge of ensuring last-mile delivery of institutional credit.

With the sowing season underway, timely issuance of KCCs will be crucial in helping farmers access affordable finance and avoid dependence on high-interest private borrowing.

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Mayuresh Ganapatye

Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. Follow him at @...Read More

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