NABARD General Manager Tanusri Bhattacharya urged farmers in Tripura to increase Kisan Credit Card (KCC) usage and called on Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) to expand beyond marketing by providing integrated agricultural support, digital market access and institutional financial assistance for sustainable farming.
Stressing the importance of institutional credit and collective farming support, NABARD General Manager Tanusri Bhattacharya on Friday urged farmers across Tripura to make greater use of the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme while calling on Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) to play a broader role in strengthening the agricultural sector.
Bhattacharya made the remarks during her visits to Sarbong Amarpur Agri Producer Company Limited and Bagma Agri Producer Company Limited in Gomati district. During the visit, she interacted with farmers, reviewed the functioning of the two FPOs and discussed ways to improve agricultural productivity, financial inclusion and market access.
Addressing the gathering, the NABARD General Manager highlighted the significance of the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme as a vital source of institutional credit for farmers. She said the scheme helps cultivators meet their working capital requirements for various agricultural activities, including the purchase of quality seeds, fertilisers, farm machinery, irrigation facilities and other essential farm inputs.
Bhattacharya encouraged farmers to rely on institutional finance rather than informal borrowing for agricultural investments. She also emphasised the importance of timely loan repayment, stating that maintaining a good credit history enhances farmers’ eligibility for future financial assistance and enables them to access a wider range of banking services.
Focusing on the role of Farmer Producer Organisations, Bhattacharya said FPOs should not remain limited to marketing agricultural produce alone. Instead, they should evolve into comprehensive support institutions that provide quality agricultural inputs, technical guidance, financial awareness and stronger market linkages for member farmers.
She further stressed the need for FPOs to embrace digital marketing platforms to widen market reach and help farmers obtain better prices for their produce. According to her, digital initiatives can significantly improve transparency, reduce dependence on intermediaries and create new business opportunities for farming communities.
The NABARD official also advised FPOs to effectively utilise various schemes offered by the Central Government, the Tripura Government, NABARD and other financial institutions. She said proper implementation of these programmes would strengthen the financial sustainability of FPOs while enhancing the livelihoods of their member farmers.
The programme was attended by Managing Director of Sarbong Amarpur Agri Producer Company Limited, Mintu Pal, Chief Executive Officer Pankaj Das and Managing Director of Bagma Agri Producer Company Limited, Sudip Majumdar. The officials briefed participants on the initiatives undertaken by their organisations to organise farmers, improve agricultural production, strengthen value chains and expand market opportunities.
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The visit reaffirmed NABARD’s commitment to promoting sustainable agriculture, improving financial inclusion and empowering Farmer Producer Organisations as key drivers of rural development in Tripura.
