Context: Recently, the Union Finance Minister has launched the Kisan Rin Portal along with the weather information Network Data Systems (WINDS) portal.

About Kisan Rin Portal

• It aims to give farmers subsidised loans under the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme to revolutionise the agriculture sector in the country.

• It will offer a comprehensive view of farmer data, scheme utilisation progress, loan disbursement specifics, and interest subvention.

• It claims to increase seamless integration with banks for more effective and efficient agriculture credit.

Door-to-door KCC campaign

• There are around 7.35 crore KCC accounts with a sanction limit of a total of 8.85 lakh crore.

• To extend the benefits of KCC, the door-to-door campaign will reach non-KCC holders of beneficiaries of the central scheme PM-KISAN.

• Under PM-KISAN, Rs 6,000 per annum is given to each identified beneficiary farmer's bank account.

About Weather Information Network Data Systems (WINDS) Portal

• It was launched to leverage advanced weather data analytics to give stakeholders actionable insight to make informed weather decisions on agriculture.

• It provides a comprehensive manual to stakeholders for an in-depth understanding of the portal functionalities, data interpretations and effective utilisation, empowering farmers, policymakers and various agricultural entities to make well-informed decisions.

• It works for crop risk mitigation and disaster risk reduction and mitigation by sharing parametric crop insurance schemes, along with non-scheme parametric insurance programmes.

Significance of agricultural schemes

• Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY): Over 1,40,000 crores of insurance amount were disbursed to farmers against a premium amount of Rs. 29,000 crore.

• Real time estimation of crops: It will help ensure right prices for farmers at the end of crop season.

• Estimation of rice and wheat crop output should be extended to Dalhan and Tilhan crops (Oilseeds and pulses) for better planning of their imports.

• Role of banks: Full automation of regional rural banks and cooperative banks and study of gap between loan sanction and loan disbursement for these banks would enhance its utility.

• Ministry of Finance and banks: Provided around 2 crore KCCs to farmers and agriculture and rural sector uplifted the economy during the pandemic.