UP crosses one lakh Digital KCC applications milestone (Img: X)
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh has achieved a major milestone in the adoption of digital technology in agriculture, becoming the first state in the country to record more than one lakh applications for Digital Kisan Credit Cards (e-KCC) within eight months.
More than one lakh farmers in the state have so far applied through the e-KCC portal or app. The facility, operated by NABARD, was launched by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in February this year and has since gained significant momentum.
The initiative is particularly significant for small and marginal farmers as it aims to simplify access to agricultural credit. Farmers no longer have to make repeated visits to bank branches to apply for loans and complete related formalities.
With the process available digitally, farmers can apply and complete the required procedures from their homes, helping save both time and effort.
Uttar Pradesh currently leads the country in Digital KCC applications. Karnataka is in second place with around 95,000 applications, while Haryana ranks third with approximately 42,000 applications.
Under the traditional system, farmers had to visit bank branches to submit applications and documents and complete various formalities for agricultural loans. Digital KCC has streamlined the process by allowing farmers to access the facility through digital platforms.
The move is expected to make formal agricultural credit more accessible, particularly for small and marginal farmers who may face difficulties in making repeated visits to banks.
Cooperation Minister JPS Rathore said Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched Digital KCC in February with the objective of connecting farmers to the agricultural credit system through technology and simplifying the process of obtaining loans.
The fact that one lakh farmers applied for the facility within eight months of its launch, he said, demonstrates the growing accessibility of digital agricultural services in the state.
Digital KCC is being positioned as an initiative aimed at improving convenience for farmers while accelerating the digital transformation of the agricultural sector. The expansion of digital access to credit is also expected to help farmers secure timely financial assistance for their agricultural needs.
The milestone of more than one lakh e-KCC applications has emerged as a significant achievement for the initiative in Uttar Pradesh.
