<p>Farmers’ credit constraints are inability to access adequate, affordable, and timely credit due to personal, institutional, or structural barriers, which restricts their investment capacity. These constraints, in turn, significantly influence farmers’ risk-taking behaviour and their adoption of improved agricultural technologies. This study examines two main questions: (1) Do credit constraints affect the technical efficiency of rice growers?; and (2) How does the situation of credit constraints and technical efficiency affect the food security of rice growers? Required data were collected through a cross-sectional survey of 366 rice growers in three randomly selected districts of Punjab. Data are analysed in two steps: first, technical efficiency scores are estimated by the Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA), with determinants of farmers' technical efficiency estimated with the Inefficiency Effects Model (IEM). In the second step, the food security of rice growers is analysed by the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES), while determinants of food security are estimated by the logistic regression model. A direct method is used to identify rice growers as being either credit constrained or credit non-constrained. Empirical estimations show that credit-constrained rice growers are 5.8% technically less efficient and 13% more food insecure than their credit non-constrained counterparts. Most importantly, demand side credit constraints have a negative effect on the technical efficiency and food security of rice growers. The findings and subsequent recommendations can guide financial institutions in disbursing agricultural credit, considering farmers’ actual requirements and on subsidized interest rates. Further, public agencies and non-government organizations (NGOs) must organize awareness sessions at the village level about agricultural credit, application procedures, and documents required by the financial institutions. This may boost farmers' efficiency of production and food security at all levels.</p>