Credit Investment Subsidy to KCC holders in Burdwan - farmer friendly transparent process

Kisan Credit Card is one of the most popular credit facility to farmers in West Bengal now, thanks to proactive role of State in popularising KCC and new simplified approach to issue the KCC.

• This year Banks and Cooperatives issued 214540 KCC in Burdwan district till November 2012 that includes 31000 fresh & new farmers. Rs 437 crores disbursed as credit to farmers through KCC during Kharif and it is likely to be doubled during Rabi/ Boro.
• Recently State Agriculture department has issued guidelines for Credit Investment Subsidy to KCC farmers as incentive to promote minor irrigation support and farm mechanisation. Under the scheme, one time electrification cost of Rs 8000 per farmer for Electric Pump set up to 5 HP is reimbursed to WBSEDCL directly by District Agriculture Officers (DDA). The beneficiary farmer must be KCC holder, having agriculture land and must produce copy of quotation against service connection charges from local Group Supply Office of WBSEDCL to get the subsidy in his favour directly to the WBSEDCL accounts.
• Regional Manager of WBSEDCL and DDA has been advised to ensure that all eligible and willing farmers are issued quotations immediately.
• Similarly, those willing to purchase new Pump sets may get Subsidy of Rs 10000 maximum up to 5 HP machine against KCC loan.
• Investment Subsidy is also available for power tiller/ tractor up to Rs 45000, Zero Tillage machine up to Rs 15000, Reaper up to Rs 15000 and Pump set up to Rs 10000 per farmer. In all these cases the Subsidy to be released to the Banks against the loan disbursement for these purposes using KCC/ Direct Agriculture loan. So there is no chance of leakages.
• In Burdwan, 2700 is the target for One Time Electric Connection Scheme with fund allocation of Rs 216 Lakhs and Rs 824 lakhs has been allocated for farm mechanisation/ pump sets which may cover further 7000 farmers this year.
• Details of these initiatives have been provided to all Block/ GP offices through ADAs.
• District authority has launched special mission approach for universalising of KCC from January to March 2013 activating the field functionaries and BLBCs at block level.