Building Assets for Future Farming

The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) is a financing facility launched in 2020 to catalyze the creation of post-harvest management infrastructure and community farming assets. It aims to reduce post-harvest losses and provide better storage and processing facilities for farmers.

Key Features: - Interest Subvention: 3% interest subvention per annum on loans up to ₹2 crore. - Credit Guarantee: Coverage for loans up to ₹2 crore under the CGTMSE scheme. - Long Repayment: Loan repayment period of up to 7 years, including a moratorium period.

What can you Build? 1. Storage Facilities: Cold storages, warehouses, and silos. 2. Processing Units: Primary processing centers, sorting, grading, and waxing units. 3. Community Assets: Smart and precision farming tools, farm machinery banks, and e-marketing platforms.

Who Can Apply? Farmers, FPOs (Farmer Producer Organizations), PACS (Primary Agricultural Credit Societies), Entrepreneurs, and Agri-tech startups are all eligible for financing under AIF.

Impact: By improving infrastructure, AIF ensures that farmers can store their produce and sell it at the right time when prices are favorable, rather than resorting to distress sales immediately after harvest.