Sri Vijaya Puram, June 9: The Modern agricultural infrastructure is vital for enhancing agricultural growth and productivity in the Islands. It improves post-harvest management, reduces losses and strengthens market access and value addition. Infrastructure development also ensures balanced regional growth and optimum utilization of limited resources, thereby supporting sustainable agriculture and better farmer livelihoods.
Under the Central Sector Scheme – Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) medium long-term debt financing facility for investment in viable projects for post-harvest management Infrastructure and community farming assets through incentives and financial support is provided to improve agriculture infrastructure in the country.
The financing facility will be provided by banks and financial institutions as loans to Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (PACS), Marketing Cooperative Societies, Farmer Producers Organizations (FPOs), Self Help Groups (SHGs), Farmers, Joint Liability Groups (JLG), Multipurpose Cooperative Societies, Agri-entrepreneurs, Startups and Central/State agency or Local Body sponsored Public Private Partnership Project for investment in viable projects for post-harvest management Infrastructure and community farming assets through incentives and financial support in order to improve agriculture infrastructure in the country.
All loans under this financing facility will have interest subvention of3% per annum upto a limit of Rs.2.0 Crore. This subvention will be available for a period of 7years.
The eligible projects which can be taken under AIF include Post Harvest Management Projects and Viable projects for building Community farming assets include:
Post Harvest Management Projects:
•Supply Chain Services including e-marketing platforms
•Warehouse/Pack Houses
•Assaying Units, Sorting and grading Units, cold chains, Logistic Facilities
•Primary Processing Centers.
•Ripening Chambers.
Viable projects for building Community farming assets:
•Organic inputs production/ Bio-stimulant Production Units.
•Infrastructure for smart and precision agriculture.
For more details, the interested farmers/ FPO/ SHGs may contact the Zonal Officers of their concerned area or Kisan Call Centre of Directorate of Agriculture, Sri Vijaya Puram at 03192-243434.