PATIALA:For sensitizing the State Departments and the bankers about the newly launched Central Sector Scheme of Financing facility under ‘Agriculture Infrastructure Fund’, an online meeting was held under the Chairmanship of ADC (D), Patiala Dr. Preeti Yadav.
The meeting was initiated by Deputy Director (Horticulture) Swaran Singh Mann (Department of Horticulture, being the Nodal Officer for Implementation of the scheme) and attended by DDM NABARD Smt. Parvinder Kaur Nagra, LDM Sh. P S Anand and Officials from Agriculture Department, Horticulture Department and the District Coordinators of various banks in Patiala.
Chairing the meeting, ADC (D) emphasized the importance of the scheme and impressed upon the bankers to make the people aware of the provisions of the scheme. The Deputy Director (Horticulture) made a presentation on the provisions of the scheme. DDM NABARD explained that the Government of India has created a fund of Rs One lakh crore under the scheme, which would be operational from 2020-21 to 2029-30. She also informed that that an interest subvention of 3 percent up to a limit of Rs. 2 crore would be available for lending under this scheme. All Scheduled Commercial Banks, Cooperative banks, RRBs, Small Finance banks, NBFCs, NCDC may participate to provide this financing facility, after signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development (NABARD)/DAC&FW, she further added. Similarly, loans under the scheme would be available to the farmers, FPOs, PACS and Agri tech entrepreneurs and startups.
The scheme will facilitate setting up and modernization of key elements of the value chain – including Post Harvest Management Projects like Supply chain services including e-marketing platforms, Warehouses, Silos, Pack houses, Assaying units, Sorting and grading units, Cold chains, Logistics facilities, Primary processing centers, Ripening Chambers and Viable projects for building community farming assets including Organic inputs production, Bio stimulant production units, Infrastructure for smart and precision agriculture, 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.