CAN I GET THIS?
Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)
Depends
Individual farmers, farmer groups, FPOs, self-help groups, cooperatives, agri-entrepreneurs and startups can borrow for post-harvest infrastructure — cold storage, warehouses, grading and sorting units, primary processing, ripening chambers, packaging and logistics. Loans carry a 3% per year interest subvention for up to seven years, and credit guarantee cover is available for eligible loans.
Who is not eligible
Purely farm-production activities such as buying seed, fertiliser or livestock are not covered — this fund is for post-harvest and community farming assets. Projects without a viable detailed project report are refused at bank appraisal.
Documents needed
- Identity and address proof
- Land record or lease for the project site
- Detailed project report with cost estimates
- Bank account statements and any existing loan details
Deadline
Applications are accepted on a continuing basis through the national portal; sanctioned loans continue to draw the interest subvention for their approved term.
How to apply
- Register on the AIF portal and enter your project details.
- Prepare a detailed project report with realistic cost estimates and choose a participating lender.
- The state level sanctioning committee reviews the application before the bank completes its own appraisal.
If rejected
- Ask the lender which part of the project report failed appraisal — usually the revenue assumptions.
- Revise the project size or the cost estimates and resubmit.
- Consider applying as part of an FPO, which strengthens the application.