Cabinet approves extension of Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund

Subject: Schemes

Sec: Agri

Context:

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the continuation of the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) for another three years up to 2025-26.

More on news:

The Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) to be implemented under Infrastructure Development Fund (IDF) with an outlay of Rs.29,610.25 crore for another three years up to 2025-26.

About Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF):

The scheme will incentivize investments for
- Dairy processing and product diversification,
- Meat processing and product diversification,
- Animal Feed Plant,
- Breed multiplication farm,
- Animal Waste to Wealth Management (Agri-waste management) and
- Veterinary vaccine and drug production facilities.
Government of India will provide 3% interest subvention for 8 years including two years of moratorium for loan up to 90% from the scheduled bank and National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), NABARD and NDDB.
The eligible entities are individuals, Private Companies, FPO, MSME, Section 8 companies.
Now the Dairy Cooperatives will also avail benefits for modernization, strengthening of the dairy plants.

Objectives:

To help increase milk and meat processing capacity and product diversification thereby providing greater access for unorganized rural milk and meat producers to organized milk and meat markets.
To make available increased price realization for the producer.
To make available quality milk and meat products for the domestic consumer.
To fulfill the objective of protein enriched quality food requirement of the growing population of the country and prevent malnutrition in one of the highest malnourished children population in the world.
Develop entrepreneurship and generate employment.
To promote exports and increase the export contribution in the milk and meat sector.
To make available quality concentrated animals feed to the cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat, pig and poultry to provide balanced ration at affordable prices.

Benefits of the scheme:

The scheme will be a channel towards employment generation directly and indirectly to 35 lakh people through entrepreneurship development and aims for wealth creation in the livestock sector.
The AHIDF has benefited directly /indirectly approximately 15 lakh farmers.