The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) is a central sector scheme launched in July 2020 as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat economic package. The scheme aims to provide medium to long-term debt financing for investment in viable projects relating to post-harvest management infrastructure and community farming assets.

The scheme has a corpus of ₹1 lakh crore to be provided over 4 years (2020-21 to 2023-24).

Eligible beneficiaries under the scheme include:

• Farmers (individual and groups)
• Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)
• Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS)
• Marketing Cooperative Societies
• Self Help Groups (SHGs)
• Joint Liability Groups (JLGs)
• Multipurpose Cooperative Societies
• Agri-entrepreneurs
• Start-ups
• Central/State agency or Local Body sponsored Public-Private Partnership Projects

The scheme provides the following benefits:

• Interest subvention of 3% per annum, limited to ₹2 crore per project
• Credit guarantee coverage under Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) for loans up to ₹2 crore
• Convergence with other government schemes
• Facility for multiple loans for different projects

Eligible projects under the scheme include:

• Post-harvest management projects (e.g., supply chain services, warehouses, silos, pack houses, assaying units)
• Building community farming assets (e.g., organic inputs production, bio-stimulant production units)
• Projects identified for providing supply chain infrastructure for clusters of crops including export clusters
• Projects promoted by Central/State/Local Governments or their agencies under PPP for building community farming assets or post-harvest management projects