Reserve Bank has made Aadhar linkage mandatory for farmers who wish to avail short-term crop loans in 2017-18. In a notification issued from Mumbai yesterday, RBI has advised banks to make Aadhaar linkage compulsory to ensure hassle-free benefits to farmers under the Interest Subvention Scheme.<br/><br/>RBI has clarified that farmers can avail of short-term crop loans of up to 3 lakh rupees at subsidised interest rate of 7 percent that could go down to 4 percent on prompt repayment.<br/><br/>Meanwhile, in order to discourage distress sale and encourage farmers to store produce in warehouses, banks will provide subvention benefit to small and marginal farmers with Kisan Credit Cards for a further period of up to 6 months post-harvest.