AGRI-CLINIC AND AGRIBUSINESS CENTERS (ACABC) SCHEME​

AGRI-CLINIC AND AGRIBUSINESS CENTERS (ACABC) SCHEME

  • Agri-Clinics: Agri-Clinics are envisaged to provide expert advice and services to farmers on various technologies including soil health, cropping practices, plant protection, crop insurance, post­ harvest technology and clinical services for animals, feed and fodder management, prices of various crops in the market etc. which would enhance productivity of crops/ animals and ensure increased income to farmers.

  • Agri-Business Centers: Agri-Business Centers are commercial units of agri-ventures established by trained agriculture professionals. Such ventures may include maintenance and custom hiring of farm equipment, sale of inputs and other services in agriculture and allied areas, including post-harvest management and market linkages for income generation and entrepreneurship development.

eligibility criteria for candidates:

  • The scheme is open to categories of candidates of age group of 18 to 60 years.
  • Graduates and post graduates in Agriculture and allied subjects & Diploma (with at least 50% marks)/Post Graduate Diploma holders in Agriculture and allied subjects are eligible under the scheme.
  • Degree/ Diploma/ Post-graduate Diploma courses with more than 60 percent of course content in Agriculture and allied subjects after B. with Biological Sciences from recognized colleges and universities.
  • Agriculture related courses at intermediate (i.e. plus two) level, with at least 55% marks.

project cost ceiling:

  • Ceiling of project cost for subsidy is Rs. 20 lakh for an individual project (25 lakh in case of extremely successful individual projects) and up to Rs. 100 lakh for a ·group project (Established by a group comprising at least 5 trained persons under the scheme).
  • The actual credit sanctioned by the bank for a venture established under the scheme could be higher depending on the financial viability and technical feasibility. Thus, for instance, if an individual is granted a loan for TFO of Rs.35 lakh, subsidy shall be reckoned only on TFO of Rs.20 lakh.
  • To encourage exceptionally  successful    individual   agri- preneurs, the project cost limit for subsidy purposes may be. extended by Rs 5 lakh in addition to the generally applicable project cost limit of Rs.20 lakh for calculating subsidy. This will serve as an incentive to an agri preneurs to expand his/ her already established and successful venture.

Margin Money: 

  • In case of loans up to Rs.5 lakh, no margin money is required as per present norms.
  • The margin money to be contributed by the general category entrepreneur will be as per prevailing However, concessions would be made in respect of SCs/STs, women and beneficiaries of North-Eastern States, Hill areas. In such cases, a maximum of 50% of the margin money prescribed by banks could be given by NABARD to meet the

subsidy:

Subsidy pattern ·has  been revised from “capital and  interest subsidy” to  “composite  Subsidy”  which  will be  back-ended in nature. It will be 44% of project cost for women, SC/ST & all categories of candidates from NE and Hill states and 36% of project cost for all others.

  • The subsidy will be back ended with minimum 3 years lock-in period. This implies that once the loan is taken with subsidy, the account cannot be closed within three years.
  • The subsidy, which is back ended, will be admissible only if all repayments till date had been made.
  • The subsidy will be adjusted in one lump-sum against the last remaining instalments of repayment of bank loan.
  • Banks should prescribe interest rates as per declared policy of the bank for the relevant sector, at the time of sanction of loan amount.

Security

The loans of Rs 5 lakh can be secured against hypothecation of assets created and no further security would be necessary.