IAS Gyan

Daily News Analysis

Agriculture Infrastructure Fund

7th August, 2021 Agriculture

Context

  • Strengthening APMCS through Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) Scheme – Government

 

About

  • The Union Cabinet in July 2020 has approved a new pan India Central Sector Scheme called Agriculture Infrastructure Fund.
  • The scheme shall provide a medium - long term debt financing facility for investment in viable projects for post-harvest management Infrastructure and community farming assets through interest subvention and financial support.
  • The duration of the Scheme shall be from FY2020 to FY2032 (10 years).
  • Moratorium for repayment under this financing facility may vary subject to minimum of 6 months and maximum of 2 years.

 

Intended beneficiaries

  • Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), Marketing Cooperative Societies, Farmer Producers Organizations (FPOs), Self Help Group (SHG), Farmers, Joint Liability Groups (JLG), Multipurpose Cooperative Societies, Agri-entrepreneurs, Startups, Aggregation Infrastructure Providers and Central/State agency or Local Body sponsored Public Private Partnership Project.

The following community farming assets projects are eligible under the scheme:-

  • Organic inputs production
  • Bio stimulant production units
  • Infrastructure for smart and precision agriculture.
  • Projects identified for providing supply chain infrastructure for clusters of crops including export clusters.
  • Projects promoted by Central/State/Local Governments or their agencies under PPP for building community farming assets or post-harvest management projects.

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1743362