Kisan Card and Problems Faced by Farmers in Accessing Agricultural Credit: A Case Study of Kalyana Karnataka

Abstract: Agricultural credit in Karnataka primarily comes from cooperative banks, regional rural banks, and commercial banks, often supported by government schemes offering interest subsidies and loans for various agricultural and allied activities. The Government of Karnataka mainly provides schemes such as the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) for crop loans, loans for animal husbandry and fisheries, and other schemes like Ganga Kalyana for irrigation. The progress of agricultural credit in India, especially in the Kalyana Karnataka region, has depended crucially on government intervention over the years. This empirical study attempts to examine the role of banks in providing agricultural finance and to suggest some framework changes to address farmers’ problems and build a sound financing system for the future. Agricultural Credit during 2023–24, the disbursement of agricultural credit during 2023–24 was ₹25.10 lakh crore against the target of ₹20.00 lakh crore, indicating an achievement of 125%. Commercial banks, RRBs, and cooperative banks accounted for 75%, 13%, and 12% of the total disbursement, respectively.