Agriclinics : Agriclinics are envisaged to provide expert services and advice to farmers on cropping practices, technology dissemination, crop protection from pests & diseases, market trends and prices of various crops in the markets and also clinical services for animal health etc. which would enhance productivity of crops / animals.

Agribusiness Centres : Agribusiness Centres are envisaged to provide input supply, farm equipments on hire and other services.

In order to enhance viability of the ventures, Agriculture Graduates may also take up in agriculture and allied areas alongwith the Agriclinics/ Agribusiness Centres.

Eligibility 

The scheme is open to Agriculture Graduates/Graduates in subjects allied to agriculture like horticulture, animal husbandry, forestry, dairy, veterinary, poultry farming, pisciculture and other allied activities.

Project activities : An illustrative list is given below

• Soil and water quality cum inputs testing laboratories (with Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometers)

• Pest surveillance, diagnostic and control services

• Maintenance, repairs and custom hiring of agricultural implements and machinery including micro irrigation systems (sprinkler and drip)

• Agri Service Centres including the three activities mentioned above (Group Activity).

• Seed Processing Units

• Micro-propagation through Plant Tissue Culture Labs and Hardening Units

• Setting up of Vermiculture units, production of bio-fertilisers, bio-pesticides, bio-control agents.

• Setting up of Apiaries (bee-keeping) and honey & bee products' processing units

• Provision of Extension Consultancy Services

• Hatcheries and production of fish finger-lings for aquaculture

• Provision of livestock health cover, setting up veterinary dispensaries & services including frozen semen banks and liquid nitrogen supply

• Setting up of Information Technology Kiosks in rural areas for access to various agriculture related portals

• Feed Processing and testing units

• Value Addition Centres

• Setting up of Cool Chain fro the farm level onwards (Group Activity)

• Retail marketing outlets for processed agri-products

• Rural marketing dealerships of farm inputs and outputs

Any combination of two or more of the above viable activities alongwith any other economically viable activity selected by the Graduates, which is acceptable to the Bank.

The project can be taken up by Agriculture Graduates either individually or on joint / group basis. The outer ceiling for the cost of project by individual would be Rs.10 lakh and for the project by group would be Rs.50 lakh. The group may normally be of 5, of which one could be management graduate with qualification or experience in business development and management

Margin Money (Down Payment) : As per the RBI norms.

Rate of Interest :

The details of the rate of interest to be charged by the financing bank to the ultimate beneficiary are given below:

* Mortage of land at banks discretion

The selection of borrowers and location of the projects may be done by the banks in consultation with Agricultural Universities / KVKs/Agriculture department of the state etc. in their area of operations, if necessary.

a) Mode of refinance

Refinance will be extended under Automatic Refinance Facility (ARF) as will as schemes with prior sanction depending upon the project outlay and amount of refinance. For availing automatic refinance. For availing automatic refinance facility, the outer limit of the project cost would be Rs.25 lakh subject to ceiling of Rs.15lakh towards refinance availment. Projects with outlay above Rs.25 lakh are required to be submitted to NABARD for prior sanction.

b) Quantum

100% of the bank loan.

c) Rate of Interest on Refinance

As decided by NABARD from time to time. The present rates of interest on refinance applicable are

d) Margin Money assistance from ‘Soft Loan Assistance Fund’ of NABARD

A maximum of 50% of the margin prescribed by banks, to meet the shortfall in borrower’s contribution, if any, where the bank is satisfied that the prospective borrower is unable to meet the margin money requirements, could be given by NABARD. Such assistance / loans to banks will be without any interest but the banks my charge a service charge of 3% p.a. from the borrower.

e) Eligibility Norms

Eligibility to draw refinance by banks will be determined as per instructions issued by NABARD from time to time.

All other terms and conditions, banking procedure and lending norms which are normally applicable to project lending and schematic refinance mutates mutandis will also be applicable to financing of agriclinics and agribusiness centers.

Subsidy 

Under consideration

Hand-Holding

Under active consideration