- KCC Fisheries was introduced in 2018-19 to provide easy credit to fishers and fish farmers.
- Eligible beneficiaries can get a working capital loan of up to ₹5 lakh.
- The interest rate is 7% per annum and can come down to 4% for eligible borrowers who repay on time.
- Collateral-free loans of up to ₹2 lakh are available to eligible borrowers.
- National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) – For fisheries-related assistance and guidance.
- Phone: 040-24000177 / 040-24000201
- Toll-Free Number: 1800-425-1660
- Email: info.nfdb@nic.in
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Summary of the Scheme
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|---|---|
| Name of Scheme | Kisan Credit Card for Fisheries (KCC Fisheries) |
| Launch Year | 2018-19 |
| Benefits | Short-term working capital loan up to ₹5 lakh at an effective interest rate of 4% per annum with timely repayment. |
| Beneficiary | Fishers, fish farmers, tenant farmers, sharecroppers, SHGs and JLGs. |
| Nodal Agency | Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying |
| Subscription | Subscribe here to get Update Regarding Scheme |
| Mode of Apply | Online through JanSamarth Portal or Kisan Rin Portal; offline through participating bank branches and State/UT Fisheries Departments. |
Kisan Credit Card for Fisheries (KCC Fisheries)
Fishers and fish farmers need cash for everyday costs such as fish seed, feed, fuel, ice, and labour, and many end up relying on private moneylenders. The Kisan Credit Card for Fisheries (KCC Fisheries), introduced in 2018-19 after the Union Budget announcement, gives them short-term working capital loans from banks at concessional rates. It became operational through RBI guidelines issued on 4 February 2019 and is implemented under the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. Commercial banks, Regional Rural Banks, and cooperative banks provide the loans.
Key Benefits
- Working capital loan of up to ₹5 lakh. The limit was raised from ₹2 lakh in 2025-26.
- Interest of 7% a year, which can effectively fall to 4% with the 3% Prompt Repayment Incentive for those who repay on time
- Collateral-free loans up to ₹2 lakh per borrower, subject to bank conditions. This limit rose from ₹1.60 lakh on 1 January 2025.
- Revolving credit: withdraw and repay within your sanctioned limit
- Banks are advised to waive processing, documentation, inspection, and ledger folio charges on eligible KCC loans up to ₹3 lakh
- Banks should process a complete application within two weeks and give the reason if they reject it
- No need to own agricultural land
Interest Benefit: Read the Fine Print
A bank may approve up to ₹5 lakh, but the concessional interest benefit does not automatically cover the whole amount. Under the 2025-26 interest subvention rules, the benefit for fisheries and allied activities is subject to a separate limit of ₹2 lakh per farmer, within an overall eligible KCC limit of ₹3 lakh when crop and allied loans are combined. Likewise, the ₹2 lakh collateral-free limit is separate from the ₹5 lakh lending limit, and the bank may ask for security above it.
What the Loan Covers
Inland fisheries and aquaculture
- Fish seed, feed, fertilisers, lime, and soil conditioners
- Labour, electricity, water-body lease rent, harvesting, and marketing
- Fish farming, shrimp and prawn farming, hatcheries, fish seed production, cage culture, and raceway farming
Marine fisheries
- Boat fuel, ice, labour, and mooring and landing charges
- Eligible mariculture in estuaries and the open sea
The bank assesses the exact working capital need based on the activity and the applicable scale of finance.
Who Can Apply?
- Individual fishers and fish farmers
- Tenant farmers and sharecroppers in fisheries
- Groups, partnerships, SHGs, JLGs, and women’s groups engaged in fisheries
- For inland fisheries and aquaculture: owned or leased ponds, tanks, open water bodies, raceways, hatcheries, or rearing units, plus any state authorisation or certification
- For marine fishing: an owned or leased registered fishing vessel and the required fishing licence or permission
Documents You May Need
- Filled KCC application form with two passport-size photographs
- ID proof (Aadhaar, Voter ID, PAN, driving licence, or passport)
- Address proof (Aadhaar, Voter ID, recent electricity or telephone bill, passport, or a Gram Panchayat or Municipality certificate)
- Bank account details or a self-attested passbook copy
- Proof of ownership or lease of fisheries assets
- Pond, tank, lake, or reservoir area details, for inland farming
- Brackish-water or prawn farming area details, where applicable
- Source of fish seed or fingerlings
- Fishing licence, authorisation, or permission
- Registered vessel documents, for marine fishing
- Land records, only if applicable
How to Apply
Online (JanSamarth Portal)
- Open the JanSamarth Portal and go to Agri Loan, Kisan Credit Card.
- Choose Kisan Credit Card, Fisheries.
- Answer the eligibility questions.
- Log in or register, then fill in the application.
- Upload documents and review everything.
- Submit and choose a lender from the options shown.
- Track the status on the portal while the bank verifies your details and sanctions the loan.
KCC Fisheries was integrated with the JanSamarth Portal on 15 March 2024.
Offline
- Visit a participating bank branch and ask for the KCC fisheries application form. You can also ask about the simplified IBA KCC form.
- Fill it in and attach your documents.
- Submit it. The bank verifies your details and assesses your working capital need before fixing the loan amount.
You can also get help from your State or Union Territory Fisheries Department.
Regular KCC vs KCC Fisheries
| Regular KCC | KCC Fisheries | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Crop cultivation and agricultural needs | Fishing, fish farming, and aquaculture |
| Assessment | Crop, cultivated area, and scale of finance | Fisheries activity, local scale of finance, and cash flow |
| Assets | Landholding generally considered | Owned or leased fisheries assets, plus licences |
| Repayment | By crop schedule | By cash flow of the fisheries activity |
RBI guidelines also provide for a separate account or smart card for the fisheries facility, so banks can monitor it apart from an existing crop-loan KCC account.
Contact
National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB)
Phone: 040-24000177 / 040-24000201
Toll-free: 1800-425-1660
Email: info.nfdb@nic.in
Department of Fisheries
Phone: 011-23381994 (Secretary, Fisheries Office)
Email: secy-fisheries@nic.in