Dirghavadhi Krishak Punji Sahakar Yojana
Why in News?
The scheme is currently being leveraged to transform Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) into multi-purpose entities, supporting the government's "Sahkar se Samriddhi" (Prosperity through Cooperation) vision.
Implementation & Authority
- Implementing Agency: The scheme is managed by the NCDC, a statutory body under the Ministry of Cooperation.
- Target Beneficiaries: It primarily assists Agricultural Credit Cooperative Societies (like PACS) by providing them with long-term funds to on-lend to their member farmers.
Core Objectives
- Long-Term Credit Flow: Ensuring a steady, uninterrupted flow of long-term loans for agriculture and allied activities (e.g., fisheries, dairy, and farm machinery).
- Capital Formation: Aims to boost capital assets in rural areas, such as warehouses, cold storage, and processing units.
- Non-Farm Employment: Supporting alternate employment opportunities in rural and semi-urban sectors through non-farm cooperative activities.
Loan & Funding Structure
- Assistance Type: Extending long-term financial assistance/advances for projects that are techno-economically viable.
- Rigorous Appraisal: Each project undergoes a strict evaluation of the cooperative's credibility and the project's financial feasibility to minimize default risks.
- Monitoring Mechanism: NCDC monitors fund utilization through its 19 Regional and 9 Sub-offices to ensure judicious use of the capital.
Impact on Farmers
- Higher Incomes: By reducing dependency on high-interest private lenders, the scheme helps farmers invest in long-term assets that improve yield and profitability.
- Diverse Activities: Loans can be used for various commodities and services falling under the NCDC’s wide mandate, including the development of local agri-infrastructure.
Institutional Strength
- Financial Growth: The NCDC reported a net profit of ₹807 crore in 2025, reflecting the robust health of the cooperative funding ecosystem it oversees.
- Low NPA: The corporation has maintained zero net Non-Performing Assets (NPAs), indicating highly successful recovery and management of schemes like this one.
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