Welfare scheme by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare
Launched in 2002
Aims at agricultural development
Ministry
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare
NABARD acts as a subsidy channelizing agency
Objectives
Supplement public extension efforts
Provide extension and other services to farmers
Create gainful self-employment opportunities
Establish agri-ventures
Enhance productivity of crops/animals
Increase incomes of farmers
Provide training and start-up loans for ventures
Cover full financial support for training and handholding
Provision of loans and credit-linked back-end composite subsidy
Project activities
Benefits
Agri-Clinics
Provide expert advice and services to farmers
Enhance productivity of crops/animals
Increase incomes of farmers
Provide support in soil health, cropping practices, plant protection, crop insurance, post-harvest technology, clinical services for animals, feed and fodder management, and market prices
Agri-Business Centres
Commercial units of agri-ventures
Established by trained agriculture professionals
Include maintenance and custom hiring of farm equipment, sale of inputs, and other services in agriculture and allied areas
Provide post-harvest management and market linkages for income generation and entrepreneurship development
Eligibility
Age of applicant between 18 and 60 years
Qualify as one of the following:
Graduates in agriculture and allied subjects
Diploma/Post Graduate Diploma holders in Agriculture and allied subjects
Biological Science Graduates with Post Graduation in Agriculture & allied subjects
Agriculture-related courses at intermediate level with at least 55% marks
Implementation Strategy
Extension consultancy services
Soil and water quality cum inputs testing laboratories
Pest surveillance, diagnostic and control services
Maintenance, repairs, and custom hiring of agricultural implements and machinery
Micro-propagation through Plant Tissue Culture Labs and Hardening Units
Setting up of Vermiculture units, production of bio-fertilizers, bio-pesticides, and bio-control agents
Setting up of Apiaries and honey & bee products’ processing units
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
Retail marketing outlets for processed agri-products
Rural marketing dealerships of farm inputs and outputs
Exclusions
Retired employees getting pensionary benefits are not eligible for subsidy. However, they can undergo training and establish self-financed projects.
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