Srinagar: There has been a significant increase in institutional loans to farmers under the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme, with the total sanctioned credit reaching Rs 10,421.44 crore for 11,40,375 active cardholders by September 30, 2025. These figures are 11 percent more than the Rs 9,421.47 crore given to 10,92,777 farmers during the same period last year, which shows the steady increase in financing of agriculture and allied sectors. According to official progress data, crop-related KCC loans are the largest in the scheme, accounting for about 77 percent of the total sanctioned credit.
The number of crop KCC accounts increased slightly from 8,68,331 in September 2024 to 8,77,087 in September 2025. Credit sanctioned under this category increased from Rs 7,588.19 crore to Rs 8,064.54 crore, an increase of six per cent. These loans play an important role in providing money to farmers for essential farming purposes like purchasing seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation equipment and other farming inputs. Although crop loans remain the largest segment, there has been a good increase in loans given to the agriculture sector in the last year.
The fisheries sector saw the largest increase, with KCC accounts increasing from 1,227 to 2,844, an increase of more than 130 percent. Credit sanctioned for fisheries activities also increased from Rs 14.11 crore to Rs 22.45 crore. Dairy financing also witnessed steady growth, with the number of accounts increasing from 1,80,155 to 2,03,557. Credit given to dairy farmers increased by 26 percent to Rs 1,751.86 crore, whereas last year it was Rs 1,391 crore. Similarly, KCC accounts for sheep rearing increased from 30,375 to 32,924, while credit sanctioned under this category increased from Rs 292.99 crore to Rs 337.96 crore.
Poultry farming increased the most. The number of KCC accounts almost doubled from 12,689 to 23,963, while credit sanctioned rose sharply from Rs 135.17 crore to Rs 244.64 crore. Loans to animal husbandry, sheep farming and fisheries combined now account for about 23% of the total KCC credit portfolio, reflecting growing institutional support for diverse rural livelihoods. Till September 30, 2025-26, the authorities issued 21,962 new KCC cards for crop-related works and 20,747 cards for allied sectors like animal husbandry, sheep rearing and fish farming. In comparison, during the same time last financial year, 18,078 crop KCCs and 27,168 KCCs were issued for the allied sector. The increase in crop KCC issuances shows that demand for crop production credit remains strong, while the linked sector remains an essential part of the rural credit ecosystem.
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