RBI to Continue Interest Subvention Scheme for Farmers

The government has approved the continuation of interest subvention scheme during the current financial year for short-term loans of up to Rs 3 lakh for agriculture and allied activities availed through Kisan Credit Card (KCC). 

Under the scheme, farmers get loan at a concessional interest rate of 7 per cent. An additional interest subvention of 3 per cent per annum is provided to farmers who repay loans in time, according to the Reserve Bank of India.

It implies that farmers repaying promptly would get short-term crop loans and/or short term loans for allied activities including animal husbandry, dairy, fisheries, bee keeping etc. @ 4 per cent per annum during financial year 2024-25.

The Reserve Bank said In a circular that the rate of interest subvention to lending institutions will be 1.5 per cent for 2024-25. The limit for crop loan component will take priority for interest subvention and prompt repayment incentive benefits and the residual amount will be considered towards allied activities including animal husbandry, dairy, fisheries, bee keeping, etc., the central bank said.

In order to discourage distress sale by farmers and to encourage them to store their produce in warehouses, the benefit of interest subvention under KCC will be available to small and marginal farmers for a further period of up to six months post the harvest of the crop.

To provide relief to farmers affected by natural calamities, the applicable rate of interest subvention for that year will be made available to banks for the first year on the restructured loan amount, the circular issued by the RBI said, adding that such restructured loans will attract normal rate of interest from the second year onwards.

To ensure hassle-free benefits to farmers under the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS), Aadhaar linkage would continue to be mandatory for availing the above-mentioned short-term loans in 2024-25.