About the Scheme  

• The Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme was launched in 1998 with the aim of providing short-term formal credit to farmers. 
• The beneficiaries under the scheme will be issued with a Smart card/ Debit card. 
• Under the KCC Scheme, a flexible limit of Rs.10,000 to Rs.50,000 is being provided to marginal farmers (as Flexi KCC) based on the land holding and crops grown. 

Objective / Purpose

The Kisan Credit Card scheme aims at providing adequate and timely credit support from the banking system under a single window with flexible and simplified procedure to the farmers for their cultivation and other needs as indicated below:

• To meet the short term credit requirements for cultivation of crops;
• Post-harvest expenses;
• Produce marketing loan;
• Consumption requirements of farmer household;
• Working capital for maintenance of farm assets and activities allied to agriculture;
• Investment credit requirement for agriculture and allied activities.

Eligibility:

• • Farmers – individual/joint borrowers who are owner cultivators;
• Tenant farmers, oral lessees & sharecroppers;
• Self Help Groups (SHGs) or Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) of farmers including tenant farmers, sharecroppers etc.
• KCC has also been extended to farmers who are involved in activities related to animal husbandry and fisheries.

Why in News?

• As part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Package, the Government has announced to cover 2.5 crore farmers under the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme with a credit boost of Rs. 2 lakh crore through a special saturation drive. 
• As a result of concerted and sustained efforts by the banks and other stakeholders a major milestone target of covering more than 1.5 crore farmers under KCC, with sanctioned credit limit of Rs.1.35 lakh crore has been achieved.

References:

1. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1665849
2. https://vikaspedia.in/agriculture/agri-credit/revised-kisan-credit-card-scheme