Eligible farmers to get Kisan credit cards

New Delhi, Mar 18 : Union Minister of State for Finance P K Bansal today said a total of seven crore farmers have been given Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) in the country so far, and the Government is making efforts to provide such credit cards to all eligible farmers.

While replying to supplementaries during Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha, Bansal said all categories of farmers, including tenant farmers, sharecroppers, oral lessees are eligible for a Kisan credit card from the cooperative banks, regional rural banks and commercial banks.

In 2006-07, 8.511 million cards were issued and Rs 46.72 lakh credit extended to farmers through them.

Bansal said that farmers who took loans through Kisan credit cards would also be eligible for the mega loan waiver scheme of Rs 60,000 crore.

Farmers can avail timely credit in a hassle free manner and crop loans disbursed under KCC for notified crops are covered under the National Agricultural Insurance Scheme, Bansal added.

ANI