Chouhan Hails KCC Scheme’s Game-Changing Role for Farmers

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan brought the curtains down on the Advanced Agriculture Festival 2026 in Raisen with a stirring call to action for farmers. At the centerpiece farmers’ conference, he dissected the transformative power of the Kisan Credit Card (KCC), a scheme that has redefined access to finance since its inception in Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s era and robust expansion under PM Narendra Modi.

Drawing from history, Chouhan described the pre-KCC nightmare: farmers mortgaging futures to sahukars for seeds and manure, only to lose crops to interest payments. ‘KCC is a divine intervention,’ he declared, outlining its role in providing seamless, subsidized credit.

He expanded on complementary initiatives—the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund for post-harvest upgrades and PM KUSUM’s 60% solar subsidies that promise energy independence. Information asymmetry, however, hampers adoption, a point he hammered home in the presence of state ministers Ramanath Thakur and Shyam Singh Rana.

The festival’s narrative arc celebrated women’s FPOs and self-help groups. These powerhouses of perseverance are crafting narratives of success with superior products and shrewd marketing. Their presence underscored Atmanirbhar Bharat, elevating incomes and community development.

As the event concluded, the fusion of cutting-edge tech, novel practices, and resource optimization signaled a new chapter for farming. Chouhan’s message resonated: informed, empowered farmers will harvest not just crops, but prosperity.