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In a big relief to farmers, the government has given an approval for the continuation of interest subvention scheme for short-term loans of up to Rs 3 lakh for agriculture and allied activities availed through Kisan Credit Card (KCC) during the current and the next fiscals.

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. In order to provide short-term crop loans for agriculture and allied activities, including animal husbandry, dairy, fisheries, and bee keeping, up to an overall limit of Rs 3 lakh to farmers through KCC at concessional interest rate, the government provides subsidy to banks.

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 also be available to small and marginal farmers for a further period of up to six months post the harvest of the crop against negotiable warehouse receipts of the produce stored in warehouses accredited with the Warehousing Development Regulatory Authority (WDRA).