अब किसानों को खेती के लिए मिलेगा ज्यादा कर्ज, KCC में हुए बड़े बदलाव

अब किसानों को खेती के लिए मिलेगा ज्यादा कर्ज, KCC में हुए बड़े बदलाव News of significant relief is emerging for farmers. Major changes are underway in the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme, a key scheme of the central government. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released a draft proposing to increase the KCC's term, loan limit, and scope of use. Public and expert suggestions have been sought on this draft until March 6th. If implemented, farmers will receive more loans and more time to repay them, reducing the pressure on farming costs. The most significant change is the validity period of the KCC. Previously, the Kisan Credit Card had a five-year term and required renewal after that. However, according to the proposal, this period will now be extended to six years. This will eliminate the need for farmers to visit the bank frequently and ensure continued access to credit. Furthermore, the loan limit will be linked to the actual cost of farming. That is, the loan will be determined based on fertilizer, seeds, irrigation, labor, and other expenses, and will be increased according to the scale of finance. Farmers will also continue to benefit from interest rates. According to the proposal, loans up to ₹5 lakh will attract a 7% interest rate. If farmers repay the loan on time, an additional 3% discount will be provided, reducing the effective interest rate to 4%. It is also proposed to link loan repayment rules to the crop cycle. The deadline will be 12 months for short-term crops and 18 months for long-term crops like sugarcane and fruits, eliminating the pressure on farmers to repay loans in a hurry. The draft places special emphasis on promoting modern agriculture. Expenditures on agri-tech activities such as soil testing, weather forecasting, organic farming certification, drone technology, and smart irrigation will also be eligible under the KCC. Additionally, there are plans to link KCCs to digital platforms, allowing farmers to directly pay for fertilizer and seed purchases through means like UPI and e-Rupi. This will reduce the risk of holding cash and increase transparency in transactions. However, in states like Bihar, the situation with KCC loans is currently unsatisfactory. Despite the state's millions of farmers, only a limited number have benefited from the scheme. According to reports, many bank branches have not issued a single KCC, despite the high target. A goal has been set to double the number of beneficiaries in the coming years, and NABARD has also announced additional interest subsidies. Overall, the proposed changes could prove to be a relief for farmers. Higher loan availability, longer tenure, and the addition of digital facilities will provide economic strength to agriculture. If implemented, farmers growing long-term crops will benefit significantly, and the use of technology in agriculture will increase rapidly. This change is considered a significant step towards strengthening the rural economy. #KisanCreditCard #KCCUpdate #FarmersRelief #RBIUpdate #AgricultureNews #IndianFarmers #RuralEconomy #AgriReforms #DigitalFarming #BiharFarmers