“Farm Loans Available At 4%”: NABARD Explains How Farmers Can Access Cheaper Credit

How can farmers access affordable and timely credit? At the Bharat Agriculture Conclave 2026, Prakash Kumar Mishra, DGM, NABARD, explains the institution’s role in strengthening agricultural lending. In a conversation with Siddharth Zarabi, Group Editor, Business Today, he discusses funding support for smaller banks, government interest subvention on Kisan Credit Card loans, prompt repayment incentives and the Joint Liability Group model for farmers who lack collateral. Mishra says these measures can bring the effective cost of eligible agricultural credit down to 4%. He also highlights NABARD’s work in digitisation and strengthening rural financial institutions to improve farmers’ access to loans.