Applications openCentral Government
Kisan Credit Card (KCC) — low-interest crop credit for farmers
Government of India (through banks)
Overview
A scheme that gives farmers timely, affordable bank credit for cultivation, equipment and working capital. It also covers seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, irrigation, and allied activities such as dairy, fisheries and animal husbandry.
Credit is at 7% a year; with interest subvention for timely repayment the effective rate is just 3%, for limits up to Rs 3 lakh. It works as a revolving cash facility without repeated applications, and funds can be drawn with an ATM-cum-debit card. Repayment is flexible and aligned to harvests.
Owner cultivators, tenant farmers, oral lessees, sharecroppers and farmer SHGs/JLGs can apply at a commercial bank, regional rural bank or cooperative bank.
At a glance
- Administering authority
- Government of India (through banks)
- Scheme type
- Agriculture, Business & Finance
- Place of posting / area
- All India
- Application mode
- Online and offline
- Important dates
- Applications accepted year-round
Benefits
- Credit at 7% a year; effective 3% with interest subvention for timely repayment, for limits up to Rs 3 lakh
- Covers seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, irrigation and other crop costs
- Covers allied activities such as dairy, fisheries and animal husbandry
- Flexible repayment aligned to harvests
- Revolving cash credit without repeated applications
- ATM-cum-debit card
- Insurance against crop failure and natural calamities in some cases
Eligibility
- Farmers engaged in agriculture — owner cultivators, tenant farmers, oral lessees and sharecroppers
- Self-Help Groups (SHGs) or Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) of farmers
- Farmers in allied activities such as dairy, fisheries, poultry and animal husbandry
- Cultivable land or a valid farming arrangement (ownership or lease)
- Meets the bank's creditworthiness criteria (repayment capacity and credit history)
Required documents
- Identity proof
- Address proof
- Land ownership/tenancy documents
- Passport-size photographs
How to apply
- Visit a commercial bank, regional rural bank or cooperative bank, or apply online on the bank's website
- Fill in the KCC form with personal, land and crop details
- Submit identity proof, address proof, land documents and photographs
- Give your cropping pattern and credit needs — the limit is assessed from these
- The bank verifies eligibility, creditworthiness and land records
- Once the limit is sanctioned, a KCC (usually an ATM-cum-debit card) is issued
- The bank reviews and renews the limit, usually every 3–5 years
Last updated: 1 Nov 2026
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