The Government has officially doubled the loan target of the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) from ₹1 lakh crore to ₹2 lakh crore. This expansion, aims to accelerate the creation of critical infrastructure like cold chains, warehouses, and processing units to reduce wastage and boost farmer incomes
Features of Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)
| Component | Details |
| Scheme Name | Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) |
| Objective | Medium to long-term debt financing facility for investment in viable post-harvest management infrastructure and community farming assets, supported through interest subvention and credit guarantee |
| Type of Scheme | Central Sector Scheme |
| Implementation Period | 2020-21 to 2029-30 |
| Key Financial Support | * Interest subvention of 3% per annum * Credit guarantee coverage for loans up to ₹2 crore |
| Credit Guarantee Mechanism | Coverage under Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) |
| Primary Eligible Beneficiaries | * Farmers * Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) * Farmers Producer Organizations (FPOs) * Self Help Groups (SHGs) |
| Other Eligible Beneficiaries | * Government bodies * Agricultural Produce Mar |
| Eligible Projects | * Post-Harvest Management Projects: Such as warehouses, Cold Chains, Cold storage, Ripening Chambers. * Community Farming Assets: Such as Infrastructure for smart and precision agriculture (e.g., Drones, Sensors, AI). |