Agriculture Infrastructure Fund

The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) is a government programme designed to boost the agricultural sector's productivity and efficiency. It focuses on empowering Indian’s agriculturists, enabling them to upgrade their post-harvest management infrastructure, while providing support for advanced packaging and cold storage systems, and driving increased private agricultural investment.

उद्देश्य

The AIF scheme aims to boost agricultural productivity and efficiency by:

  • Upgrading post-harvest management infrastructure.
  • Providing farmers with modern packaging and cold storage solutions to sell their produce independently.
  • Encouraging private sector investments in agriculture.
  • Reducing food waste on a national scale.
  • Utilising advanced technologies like IoT and AI to drive innovation in agriculture.
  • Connecting agri-entrepreneurs and startups with funding and collaboration opportunities. 

पात्र उधारकर्ता The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund Scheme is open to a diverse array of individuals and organisations involved in agriculture, including:

  • किसान
  • किसान उत्पादक संगठन (FPO)
  • प्राथमिक कृषि ऋण समितियां (PACS)
  • कृषि-उद्यमी
  • स्टार्टअप
  • Self-Help Groups
  • Joint Liability Groups (JLGs)
  • विपणन सहकारी समितियां
  • बहुउद्देशीय सहकारी समितियां
  • सहकारी समितियों के राष्ट्रीय संघ
  • राज्य सहकारी संघ
  • Public-Private Partnership Projects supported by central or state governments or local authorities. 

पात्र परियोजनाएं

The Agricultural Infrastructure Fund supports the financing of projects, including:

  • Production of organic inputs
  • Bio-stimulant manufacturing units
  • Nurseries
  • Tissue culture facilities
  • Seed processing units
  • Custom hiring centres
  • स्मार्ट और सटीक कृषि के लिए बुनियादी ढांचा
  • Logistics facilities, such as refrigerated vans and insulated vehicles
  • Assaying laboratories
  • ई-मार्केटिंग प्लेटफॉर्म सहित सप्लाई चेन सेवाएं
  • गोदाम और सिलोस
  • Cold storage and cold chain facilities
  • पैकेजिंग यूनिट
  • Primary processing operation 

Additionally, eligible community farming asset projects for farmer groups include:

  • हाइड्रोपोनिक फार्मिंग
  • मशरूम फार्मिंग
  • लंबवत खेती
  • एरोपोनिक फार्मिंग
  • Polyhouse/greenhouse construction
  • Logistics facilities, including non-refrigerated and insulated vehicles

Nature of Loan
टर्म लोन

लोन की मात्रा:

  • For loans up to ₹2 crore, guarantee coverage and subvention benefits are available. Loans exceeding ₹2 crore may be considered, but benefits under the scheme are not applicable. 

पुनर्भुगतान अवधि:

  • Repayment should align with the cash flow of the funded project. The moratorium period for repayment can range from a minimum of 6 months to a maximum of 2 years, with interest payable during this period. The loan tenure will be 7 years.

Scheme Benefit

क्रेडिट गारंटी कवरेज:

ब्याज में छूट

Note: The AIF scheme aligns with various State and Central Government schemes, including AMI, ACABC, PMEGP, NHB, MIDH, and PM KUSUM.

  • Under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) Scheme, qualified borrowers can benefit from Credit Guarantee Coverage. This is available through the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) for loans up to ₹2 crore.| 
  • The AIF scheme provides interest subvention to make loans more affordable for small-scale borrowers. Loans approved under this scheme qualify for an annual interest subvention of 3%, within the limits specified by the scheme guidelines. 

More About Agriculture Infrastructure Fund

  • Features of the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund
  • For Loans up to ₹2 crore, guarantee coverage and subvention benefits are available. Loans exceeding ₹2 crore may be considered, but benefits under the scheme are not applicable.
  • Repayment should align with the cash flow of the funded project. The moratorium period for repayment can range from a minimum of 6 months to a maximum of 2 years, with interest payable during this period. The maximum total Loan tenure is 7 years.
  • Under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) Scheme, qualified borrowers can benefit from Credit Guarantee Coverage. This is available through the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) for loans up to ₹2 crore.
  • The AIF scheme provides interest subvention to make loans more affordable for small-scale borrowers. Loans approved under this scheme qualify for an annual interest subvention of 3%, within the limits specified by the scheme guidelines.
  • How to Apply for the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund?
  • To apply for this scheme, visit HDFC's official website, click ‘Agri', and then click on the ‘Agriculture Infrastructure Fund’. Simply fill out the loan application form and submit the requested documents.

सामान्य प्रश्न

Some of the eligible borrowers and the projects deemed eligible for funding under the AIF programme include:

पात्र उधारकर्ता:

  • किसान
  • किसान उत्पादक संगठन (FPO)
  • प्राथमिक कृषि ऋण समितियां (PACS)
  • कृषि-उद्यमी
  • स्टार्टअप
  • स्व-सहायता समूह
  • जॉइंट लायबिलिटी ग्रुप (JLG)
  • विपणन सहकारी समितियां
  • बहुउद्देशीय सहकारी समितियां
  • सहकारी समितियों के राष्ट्रीय संघ
  • राज्य सहकारी संघ

पात्र परियोजनाएं:

  • Production of organic inputs
  • Bio-stimulant manufacturing units
  • Nurseries
  • Tissue culture facilities
  • बीज प्रक्रमण
  • कस्टम हायरिंग सेंटर
  • स्मार्ट और सटीक कृषि के लिए बुनियादी ढांचा
  • रीफर वैन और इंसुलेटेड वाहनों जैसी लॉजिस्टिक्स सुविधाएं
  • जांच इकाइयां
  • Supply chain services including e-marketing platforms
  • गोदाम और सिलोस
  • कोल्ड स्टोर और कोल्ड चेन
  • पैकेजिंग यूनिट
  • प्राथमिक प्रसंस्करण गतिविधियां

The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) scheme is a government programme designed to boost the agricultural sector's productivity and efficiency. It focuses on helping farmers upgrade their post-harvest management infrastructure. The program also provides support to farmers to meet their advanced packaging and cold storage needs, while attracting private investments in agriculture, and minimising food wastage nationwide.

 Loans sanctioned under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) scheme are entitled to an annual interest subvention of 3%, within the limits specified by the scheme's guidelines. Eligible borrowers can also access Credit Guarantee Coverage through the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) for loans up to ₹2 crore.