Access to cooperative loan to small farmers
Access to cooperative loan to small farmers
Ministry of Cooperation, since its formation has taken various initiatives to strengthen the Cooperative movement and for deepening of its reach to the grass roots. The Ministry has taken more than 140 initiatives to promote cooperative based economic development model which includes upliftment of small and marginal farmers and Traders.
The functioning of Cooperative Banks are regularly reviewed and monitored through regulatory and supervisory mechanisms of the Reserve Bank of India and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), to ensure timely and fair access to credit for farmers and small traders. Periodic inspections, audits, and reviews are conducted to ensure adherence to prudential norms, transparency in lending practices, and proper handling of complaints relating to cooperative banking services.
The details of KCC Crop Loan and Working Capital Loan, disbursed to Small and Marginal Farmers through Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) in Erode District and Gobichettipalayam & Bhavani areas are at Annexure-1.
When a farmer applies for a crop loan with the relevant documents, the loan is generally sanctioned within seven days. Awareness regarding the interest subvention scheme for prompt repayment of crop loans are also provided to all farmers through Financial Literacy Camps (FLCs) of NABARD and through their PACS. The Government of India provides interest subvention of 3% for prompt repayment directly to the farmers. Due to this awareness initiative, loan recovery has consistently remained at around 99% (as per Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Tamil Nadu). The data of interest subsidy and loan recovery of Erode district is annexed in Annexure-2.
The steps taken to expand inclusive cooperative lending, fair recovery practices and strengthen door step cooperative banking services are given below:
ii) Fair Recovery Practices: As per RBI Master Direction dated 28.11.2025 on Responsible Business Conduct, Cooperative Banks are mandated to ensure that neither they nor their agents resort to intimidation or harassment in debt recovery, including public humiliation, intrusion into the borrower’s privacy, inappropriate messages, threatening or anonymous calls, persistent calling, or contacting borrowers.
Further, Grievance redressal mechanism has been established at society level to handle recovery related complaints. Cooperative Banks are also included in the Cooperative Ombudsman Scheme of RBI to provide accountable and transparent services.
iii) Doorstep Cooperative Banking Services
*****
Annexure-1
The details of KCC Crop Loan and Working Capital Loan, disbursed to Small and Marginal Farmers through Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) in Erode District-
(Rs. crore)
Year
Total Crop Loan Issued
Of which loan issued to SF / MF Farmers
% of Loan Issued to SF / MF
Farmers
No
Amount
No.
Amount
2022-23
92968
1011.84
85632
908.57
92%
2023-24
103488
1189.10
96581
1094.31
93%
2024-25
105798
1308.63
97784
1190.70
92%
2025-26
Upto 31.12.2025
89198
1143.38
80879
1025.40
91%
Source: RCS Tamil Nadu
The details of KCC Crop Loan and Working Capital Loan, disbursed to Small and Marginal Farmers through Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) in Gobichettipalayam & Bhavani areas-
(Rs. crore)
Year
Total Crop Loan Issued
Of which loan issued to SF / MF Farmers
% of Loan Issued to SF / MF
Farmers
No
Amount
No
Amount
2022-23
17149
177.56
16116
164.52
94%
2023-24
18581
204.72
17838
195.50
98%
2024-25
18689
223.24
17547
206.74
94%
2025-26
Upto 31.12.2025
15108
186.24
14211
174.44
94%
Source : RCS Tamil Nadu
Annexure-2
Data of interest subsidy and loan recovery of Erode district –
(Rs. crore)
PRI Claim Year
No of Farmers
7% Interest Subsidy Amount
Loan Recovery %
2022-23
99801
64.87
99.62%
2023-24
118625
86.21
99.42%
2024-25
131469
102.14
99.37%
Source : RCS Tamil Nadu
This information was given by Union Minister for Home and Cooperation Shri Amit Shah in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.
- Inclusive Cooperative Lending