Agriculture Infrastructure Fund applications cross Rs. 8,000 crore mark
						
						
							
								
									
										-  Posted By 
											 10Pointer 
										 
										-  Categories 
											 Economy 
										 
										-  Published 
											 30th Apr, 2021 
										 
										- 
											
											
										
 
									
								 
							 
						 
						
							
								
															
							
															Context
Agriculture Infrastructure Fund has crossed the eight thousand crore mark. The investment will give a boost to several agricultural projects which will unlock value for farmers across the country.
What is Agriculture Infrastructure Fund?
- The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund was established in 2020 for farm-gate infrastructure for farmers.
 
- It is a Central Sector Scheme.
 
- It is a medium – long term debt financing facility.
 
- Duration: Financial Year 2020 to 2029.
 
- Under the scheme, one lakh crore rupees will be provided by banks and financial institutions as loans with interest subvention of 3 per cent per annum and credit guarantee coverage for loans up to two Crore rupees.
 
- Eligible beneficiaries: Farmers, FPOs, PACS, Marketing Cooperative Societies, SHGs, Joint Liability Groups (JLG), Multipurpose Cooperative Societies, Agri-entrepreneurs, Start-ups, and Central/State agency or Local Body sponsored Public-Private Partnership Projects.
 
The record applications
- Agriculture Infrastructure Fund has crossed the Rs. 8000 crore mark after receiving 8,665 applications worth Rs. 8,216 crores.
 
- The largest share of the pie is contributed by
- Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) (58%)
 
- agri-entrepreneurs (24%)
 
- individual farmers (13%)
 
 
 
- States leading the front are Andhra Pradesh (2,125 applications), Madhya Pradesh (1,830), Uttar Pradesh (1,255), Karnataka (1,071) & Rajasthan (613). 
 
 
 | 
 Significance of the Scheme
- The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund has brought farmers and agri-businesses together with newer partnership models.
 
- The fund will facilitate medium and long-term debt financing facilities for investment in agricultural projects through interest subvention and credit guarantee.