However, a major shortfall in these schemes remained the fact that they were concentrated mainly to the niche segment. The farmers lying in the higher end of the pyramid received access to these schemes while the marginal and small ones still remained unprivileged. The inability of these schemes to market themselves in mass scale led to the establishment of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme.
The KCC scheme was formulated by Government of India (GOI) after consultation with Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development (NABARD). The Union Budget of 1998-99 announced the idea to develop a model scheme for issuing Kisan Credit Cards to farmers. The scheme was circulated to commercial banks by RBI and cooperative banks by NABARD.
The major objective behind setting up of the scheme was to allow for adequate and timely support to farmers in agricultural activities by banks in a cost effective manner.
Features of Kisan Credit Cards:
2.A credit cum passbook is also provided with KCC to the farmer.
3.It offers revolving credit facility thereby allowing unlimited withdrawal as well as repayment within the pre designated limit.
4.The card has a repayment period of 12 months. This means every withdrawal made has to be repaid in 12 months time.
5.The validity of the card lies for 3 years subject to annual review.
6.Credit limit has the option to be enhanced on need and performance basis.
7.Rescheduling/conversion of loans is possible in case of genuine situations like natural calamities.
8.Personal Accident Insurance up to Rs.50, 000 is offered to the card holder under Personal Accident Insurance Scheme (PAIS).
In order to be eligible for a KCC, the farmer must have good track record for atleast two previous years. In case of new borrowers a proof of operational land holding is necessary. Furthermore the farmer’s reputation in the village also plays an important role in defining his eligibility for KCC.
Credit limit of the card varies from one card holder to another. It depends on the operational land holding and the type of crops desired to be grown and the pattern of cropping too. The scale of finance is usually recommended by District Level Technical Committee (DLTC)/State Level Technical Committee (SLTC). In case the scale has not been recommended, banks are allowed to set the scale of finance.
Recently it was proposed to banks by the finance ministry that the credit limit on collateral free credit under KCC should be increased in a bidto hike the agricultural credit.
The rate of interest as well as collateral needed and margin amount is decided by banks as per norms set by RBI. Rate of interest is subject to change from time to time depending upon the notification from the authorities.
Advantages of KCC to the farmer:
1.Availability of adequate as well as timely credit facility.
2.It offers farmers not only access to credit but also the discretion to decide upon the utilization of credit.
3.Since repayment is fixed on annual basis, therefore credit requirement of the farmer is taken care of for the entire year.
4.Opportunity to make unlimited withdrawals and repayments within the set credit limit.
5.Personal accident cover offered is an added advantage to farmers.
Pitfalls in the scheme:
1.Lack of awareness and education amongst farmers to understand the positive aspects of the scheme.
2.Adequate credit requirements of the farmers has been found not met as envisaged in the plan.
3.The documentation process for the scheme has been found to be a cause of concern for farmers sometimes.