AWARENESS AND UTILISATION OF KISAN CREDIT CARD SCHEME – A STUDY WITH REFERENCE TO PRIMARY AGRICULTURE CREDIT COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES IN MADURAI DISTRICT

Abstract

This paper makes an attempt to study the awareness and utility pattern of Kisan Credit Cards by the farmers of Primary Agriculture Credit Cooperative society in Madurai District in Tamilnadu. It is based mainly on primary data collected from the 520 Kisan Credit holders issued by Primary Agriculture Cooperative society of Madurai District through convenient sampling method. The result shows that owing to high rate of interest for medium- term, long-term, consumption and contingency loans, majority of the sample farmers prefer KCC to avail interest free crop loan or Jewel crop loan. The farmers who are having both dry and wet land could plant double crop could avail revolving credit facility throughout the year. The small and marginal farmers having good record and being a member of JLG can obtain collateral-free credit from the Cooperative society. It is found from the study that that majority of the sample farmers in the study area did not avail crop insurance. It is pointing out that majority farmers are aware and effectively use the debit slip and cheque for borrowing. Lacks of computer system, internet facility in the cooperative society as well as time constraint, illiteracy of the farmers are the reasons for the minimal use of ATM card and mobile-based transfer. The level of awareness is positively correlated to the utilization pattern of KCC loan. The independent variables such as knowledge, operation and benefits have positive effect on utilization of loan.