Cabinet approves Rs 15,000 crore Animal Husbandry Infra Development Fund

New Delhi: The Union cabinet has approved the Rs 15,000 crore Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund with an interest subsidy scheme to promote investment by private players and MSMEs in dairy, meat processing and animal feed plants.

The fund is part of the Rs 20 lakh crore stimulus package announced in May to help people affected by the lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and is expected to create 35 lakh jobs.

The eligible beneficiaries under the Scheme would be Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), MSMEs, Section 8 Companies, Private Companies and individual entrepreneur with minimum 10 percent margin money contribution by them. The balance 90 percent would be the loan component to be made available by scheduled banks.

Government will provide 3 percent interest subvention to eligible beneficiaries. There will be 2 years moratorium period for principal loan amount and 6 years repayment period thereafter.

Government would also set up Credit Guarantee Fund of Rs. 750 crore to be managed by NABARD. Credit guarantee would be provided to those sanctioned projects which are covered under MSME defined ceilings. Guarantee Coverage would be upto 25 percent of Credit facility of borrower.

“The INR 15,000 cr. AHIDF and the interest subvention scheme for private investors will ensure availability of capital to meet upfront investment required for these projects and also help enhance overall returns/ pay back for investors.  Such investments in processing and value addition infrastructure by eligible beneficiaries would also promote export of these processed and value added commodities,” an official release said.