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For years, farmers in Kashmir have struggled with high interest loans and unpredictable incomes. Many were forced to sell their produce at low prices just to repay debts. But with the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme, things are changing.
Across the Valley, farmers, fisherfolk, and livestock rearers are using KCC loans to improve their work and secure better earnings. Some have built cold storage units, others have upgraded their equipment, and many have started new businesses. Here are a few stories of how this small initiative is making a big difference in people’s lives.
Tariq Ahmed Lone: The Apple Farmer Who Changed His Life
Shopian apple grower Tariq Ahmed Lone, 42, understands the anguish of seeing his laboriously cultivated crop sell for a little portion of its true value. For years, he received only ₹30 a kilogram from middlemen for apples that were subsequently sold for ₹80 or more in cities.
His harvest was damaged by floods in 2020, leaving him in debt by ₹2 lakh. He resorted to the Kisan Credit Card ruse out of desperation. Tariq made history by purchasing a joint “cold storage unit” with four other farmers using a ₹5 lakh loan.
Tariq now keeps his apples in storage and uses WhatsApp to sell them straight to Bengaluru sellers. He went from earning 1.8 lakh to nearly 6.5 lakh per year. He even switched to a high-density orchard, which improved both productivity and quality.
“We were drowning in debt before KCC, so my kids missed school fees,” Tariq says as he prunes his orchards. They are currently enrolled at a tutoring facility in Srinagar thanks to my efforts. It’s the real triumph.
Fatima Bano: The Business-Building Fisherwoman
The 35-year-old Fatima Bano was raised in a fishing household. They barely made ₹200 a day for years, struggling with a flimsy wooden boat and ripped nets. They sometimes went hungry during the harsher winters.
Fatima invested in a “fiberglass boat and sturdy nylon nets” in 2022 after obtaining a ₹1.2 lakh KCC loan. She currently provides fresh trout to the Gagribal Fish Market in Srinagar and her salary has increased to 1,500 rupees per day. She added another source of income by starting a fish drying business with her money.
The bank manager laughed when I first applied,” Fatima says. “Now, he calls me his star borrower.”
Abdul Rashid Wani: From Goat Herder to Milk Supplier
Abdul Rashid Wani’s life revolved around his 20 goats, which barely fed his family. Then, in 2021, he took a ₹3.5 lakh KCC loan and bought 10 “high-yield Sahiwal cows”.
– His small dairy now supplies 100 liters of milk daily to Kupwara’s Army cantonment.
– He installed a “biogas plant” using cow dung, cutting fuel costs.
– His monthly income? A staggering ₹1.8 lakh.
“My father thought banks were haram,” Abdul laughs. “Now, he tends the cows while I handle online orders.”
How KCC is Reshaping Kashmir’s Economy
The Kisan Credit Card scheme isn’t just helping individuals, it’s transforming entire communities.
– 22% of KCC loans in Kashmir now go to women, up from just 3% in 2018.
– 62% of KCC borrowers use mobile banking, reducing dependency on cash.
Farmers are moving beyond traditional crops, embracing saffron, trout farming, and even lavender cultivation. Yet, challenges are still there. Many small farmers in remote areas like Gurez valley still rely on moneylenders and others like them due to lack of awareness. Most of the farmers struggle with land documentation issues.
The government is working to bridge these gaps. Initiatives like “KCC on Wheels” bring bank officials to villages, while NGOs help farmers digitize land records.
For Kashmir’s farmers, the Kisan Credit Card is more than just financial aid—it’s a key to dignity, stability, and growth. As Tariq, Fatima, and Abdul prove, with the right support, even the hardest struggles can turn into success stories.
In Kashmir, where farming is not just a livelihood but a way of life, the Kisan Credit Card has quietly become a game-changer. It’s helping farmers dream beyond survival—towards better harvests, stable incomes, and dignified futures. From apple growers in Shopian to fisherwomen on Manasbal Lake, and dairy farmers in Kupwara, the stories speak for themselves. Yes, challenges remain access, awareness, and red tape but the direction is clear.
The KCC is no longer just a loan on paper; for thousands of Kashmiris, it’s a tool of self-reliance and pride. As one farmer put it, “It’s the first time I’ve felt in control of my own land.”
“Our grandfathers prayed for rain,” muses Ghulam Nabi Dar, another KCC beneficiary. “We pray for swipe machines.”
Aroojabashir256@gmail.com
Arooja Bashir
