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National Agriculture Infra Financing Facility



About :

> The role of infrastructure is crucial for agriculture development and for taking the production dynamics to the next level. It is only through the development of infrastructure, especially at the post harvest stage that the produce can be optimally utilized with opportunity for value addition and fair deal for the farmers. Development of such infrastructure shall also address the vagaries of nature, the regional disparities, development of human resource and realization of full potential of our limited land resource.


In view of above, the Hon’ble Finance Minister announced on 15.05.2020, 1 lakh crore Agri Infrastructure Fund for farm-gate infrastructure for farmers. Financing facility of Rs. 1,00,000 crore will be provided for funding Agriculture Infrastructure Projects at farm-gate & aggregation points (Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies, Farmers Producer Organizations, Agriculture entrepreneurs, Start-ups, etc.). Impetus for development of farm gate & aggregation point, affordable and financially viable Post Harvest Management infrastructure.


Accordingly, DA&FW has formulated the Central Sector Scheme to mobilize a medium - long term debt financing facility for investment in viable projects relating to postharvest management Infrastructure and community farming assets through incentives and financial support.


Subsequently, in the budget announcement made on 01.02.2021, it was decided to extend the benefit of the scheme to APMCs. Accordingly, modifications in the scheme were carried out with the approval of Cabinet to make it more inclusive.

Credit guarantee coverage will be available for eligible borrowers from this financing facility under Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) scheme for loans up to ₹ 2 crore. The fee for this coverage will be paid by the Government. In case of FPOs the credit guarantee may be availed from the facility created under FPO promotion scheme of DA&FW.


All loans under this financing facility will have interest subvention of 3% per annum up to a limit of ₹ 2 crore. This subvention will be available for a maximum period of 7 years. In case of loans beyond ₹ 2 crore, then interest subvention will be limited up to ₹ 2 crore. The extent and percentage of funding to private entrepreneurs out of the total financing facility may be fixed by the National Monitoring Committee.





Main Features :

  • Convergence with all schemes of central or state government.

  • Online single window facility in collaboration with participating lending institutions.

  • Project Management Unit to provide handholding support for projects including project preparation.

  • Size of the financing facility – ₹ 1 lakh Crore.

  • Credit Guarantee for loans up to ₹ 2 Crore.

  • Interest subvention of 3% p.a., limited to ₹ 2 crore per project in one location, though loan amount can be higher.

  • Cap on lending rate, so that benefit of interest subsidy reaches the beneficiary and services to farmers remain affordable.

  • Multiple lending institutions including Commercial Banks, Cooperative Banks, RRBs, Small Finance Banks, NCDC, NBFCs etc.

  • One eligible entity puts up projects in different locations then all such projects will be eligible under the scheme for loan upto ₹ 2 crore.

  • For a private sector entity, such as farmer, agri entrepreneur, start-up there will be a limit of maximum of 25 such projects.

  • Limitation of 25 projects will not be applicable to state agencies, national and state federations of cooperatives, federations of FPOs and federation of SHGs.









Who Can Apply:


Agricultural Produce Market Committee

  • Agri-Entrepreneur

  • Central sponsored Public-Private Partnership Project

  • Farmer

  • Farmer Producers Organization

  • Federation of Farmer Produce Organisations

  • Joint Liability Groups

  • Local Body sponsored Public-Private Partnership Project

  • Marketing Cooperative Society

  • Multipurpose Cooperative Society

  • National Federations of Cooperatives

  • Primary Agricultural Credit Society

  • Self Help Group

  • Federations of Self Help Groups

  • Start-Up

  • State Agencies

  • State Federations of Cooperatives

  • State sponsored Public-Private Partnership Project


Eligible projects under AIF:

A.    Eligible projects for all beneficiaries

  1. Organic inputs production

  2. Bio stimulant production units

  3. Nursery

  4. Tissue culture 

  5. Seed Processing

  6. Custom Hiring Center

  7. Infrastructure for smart and precision agriculture

    1. Farm/Harvest Automation

    2. Purchase of drones, putting up specialized sensors on field, Blockchain and AI in agriculture etc.

    3. Remote sensing and Internet of Things (IOT) such as automatic weather station, Farm advisory services through GIS applications.

  8. Logistics facilities - Reefer Van& Insulated vehicles

  9. Assaying Units

  10. Supply chain services including e-marketing platforms

  11. Warehouse & Silos

  12. Cold Stores and Cold Chain

  13. Packaging Units

  14. Primary Processing activities


B.    Eligible projects for building community farming assets

In addition to above activities farmer groups such as FPOs, PACS, SHGs, JLGs, Cooperatives, National and State Level Federation of Co-operatives, FPOs federations, Federations of SHGs, National and State Level Agencies etc. are eligible for following activities:

  1. Hydroponic Farming 

  2. Mushroom farming 

  3. Vertical farming 

  4. Aeroponic farming

  5. Poly house/ Greenhouse 

  6. Logistics facilities(including non-refrigerated/insulated vehicles)



Please visit offical website for more and applying

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