Lok Sabha Question No. 2058 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-01
Subject: Projects created under AIF
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Sushil Kumar Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARFMERS WELFARE LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No-2058

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 1 ST  AUGUST, 2023

## PROJECTS CREATED UNDER AIF

## 2058. SHRI  SUSHIL KUMAR SINGH :

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state :

- (a):  the details of the recent initiatives undertaken by the Government to promote the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) worth Rs. 1 lakh crore;
- (b) the objectives and targets of the new campaign for banks under Agri Infra Fund, titled BHARAT
- (c) the guidance and support provided by the Government to the banks to achieve targets considering the vast potential for agri-infra projects in the country;
- (d) the measures taken by the Government to assess the impact of the projects created under the AIF at the ground level;
- (e)  the  number of  agricultural  infrastructure projects that  have  been created and  their geographical distribution since the inception of AIF, the total loan amount disbursed under AIF
- (f) the strategy to disburse the remaining amount by the financial year 2025-26 and to continue the interest subvention and credit guarantee assistance till the year 2032-33?

## ANSWER

## क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE (SHRI  NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a): Various  types  of  programmes  in  physical  and  virtual  mode  with  different stakeholders are being conducted at regular intervals to popularise the AIF Scheme and spread awareness. Such initiatives include  FPOs & PACS workshop, workshop for State officials, Master Trainer sessions for Banks and for State Government officials, training sessions for Bank branch officials, potential customers meet of banks and sessions for DDMs/LDMs.

MoA&FW  also  conducts  skill  development  programmes  at  Bankers'  Training Colleges on physical mode and awareness sessions with Bank officials all over on VC mode for promoting AIF Scheme. Again AIF State Conclaves are being conducted in various States, which increased the flow of applications in the AIF Portal to a large extent. Apart from this, sensitisation initiatives are being undertaken by conducting Agri-Business Conclave, setting up Stalls in all Exhibitions at various States and the national Capital, Participating in Farmers Fairs and number of Workshops by State level PMUs.

State Project Monitoring Units (SPMU) have been set up by the Ministry in 18 States for providing hand holding support and consultation to beneficiaries in preparing viable DPRs. Periodic review meetings are being conducted with State Nodal Officers, SPMU Team and Banks' Nodal Officers to ensure effective monitoring of the AIF Scheme.

To  further  accelerate  progress,  Special  campaigns  are  being  launched  among Banks  and  one  such  on-going  BHARAT  (Banks  Heralding  Accelerated  Rural  and Agricultural Transformation) Campaign is under progress with a view to put the Bankers on mission mode and to instil competitive spirit in order to increase sanction under AIF.

Recently  four  new  activities  viz:  Integrated  Spirulina  production  &  processing units, Sericulture processing unit, Honey processing and Plant quarantine units  were made eligible under AIF in order to bring more farmers and agri-entrepreurs under the banner  of  AIF.  There  has  been  perpetual  improvement  in  the  Scheme  to  suit  to  its stakeholders  and  make  it  more  acceptable  to  all  and  connect  more  players  in  to  the ecosystem to fulfil the objectives underlying this ambitious programme.

With a view to attract prospective young entrepreneurs towards agriculture, AIF Scheme is brought under social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin  which  is  active    with  an  aggregate  followers  of  around  34,000,  wherein interactions with various stakeholders are done on real time.

(b):   In order to instill a competitive spirit among Banks to convert it in to acceleration in the progress of Agri Infra Fund, a month-long BHARAT (Bankers Heralding Accelerated Rural & Agriculture Transformation) Campaign was launched with a target of Rs 7200 Crore. The said target is distributed among the commercial Banks in public and private Sector, Regional Rural Banks, SFBs, NBFCs and select cooperative Banks. The objective of  the  campaign  is  to  create  competitive  spirit  among  banks  to  mobilise  agriculture infrastructure projects at a faster pace.

(c):    Every Bank has been advised by the MoA&FW to nominate an AIF Nodal Officer in the Head Office for coordination and communication in order to take care of all aspects of  AIF  Scheme from submission of application to reimbursement of Scheme benefits. Ministry  conducts  skill  development  programmes  at  Bankers'  Training  Colleges  on physical mode and awareness sessions on AIF Scheme with Bank officials from Head Offices and controlling offices of various Banks on VC mode to promote the Scheme. Periodical meeting is being conducted with the Nodal Officers for reviewing progress and providing handholding support. Special award giving ceremonies are also organised to acknowledge  the  contribution  of  top  performing  Bank  Executives  and  their  Team members. Social media groups comprising Banks' AIF Teams serve as the fast mode of communication for sorting out issues and providing handholding support.

(d): The Ministry has proposed a sample study of completed Projects by third party.

(e):    A total of 32514 projects worth total loan of Rs 25356 Crore have been sanctioned under  AIF  since  its  inception.  Out  of  this,  an  amount  of  Rs  15,448  crore  has  been disbursed  for  27748  projects.  Out  of  the  total  projects  sanctioned  under  the  scheme 19650  number  of  projects  has  been  fully  disbursed  reflecting  the  total  number infrastructure projects completed throughout the country, the details of which according to  geographical distribution is given at Annexure .

(f):      In  order  to  disburse  the  remaining  amount  by  the  financial  year  2025-26  and  to continue the interest subvention and credit guarantee assistance till the year 2032-33, Ministry has been putting efforts to popularise the Scheme in a big way by organising more State Conclaves in the coming days involving large number of stakeholders. Bank Campaigns will be conducted at regular intervals and workshops with FPOs, PACS, State officials, Bank officials and other stake holders will be organised at frequent intervals to identify and implement infrastructure projects that align with the needs of local farmers and promote collective development.

Nationwide awareness campaigns in collaboration with Banks will be launched to educate farmers, agri-entrepreneurs, and stakeholders about the benefits of the Agri Infra Fund. Social media will be used extensively by launching various campaigns involving agri  entrepreneurs,  start-ups  and  other  stake  holders.  Widespread  publicity  through Banks  and  lending  institutions  will  be  carried  out  to  encourage  smart  and  precision agriculture involving new-Gen technology like use of drone, AI in agriculture.

Ministry plans to participate in various agri expo events, Conclaves in collaboration with  merchant  associations  and  industry  federations,  setting  up  Stalls  at  various Exhibitions in State and national level in order to meet potential Investors to pitch in the idea of agriculture Infrastructure. Connecting with the existing as well as prospective Bank customers  in  collaboration  with  various  lending  institutions  is  expected  to  draw  new potential investors in to the fold of AIF to broaden its reach.

By  implementing  these  measures,  the  Agri  Infra  Fund  is  expected  to  gain momentum and play a significant role in improving agricultural infrastructure, enhancing productivity, and boosting rural development in India.

## Annexure

State wise Detail of Completed Projects ( Amount in Rs Crores)

| S.no   | State                                        |   Number of Projects | Approved Amount   | Disbursed Amount   |
|--------|----------------------------------------------|----------------------|-------------------|--------------------|
| 1      | MADHYA PRADESH                               |                 3909 | 2,707             | 2,707              |
| 2      | MAHARASHTRA                                  |                 2424 | 901               | 901                |
| 3      | UTTAR PRADESH                                |                 1175 | 691               | 691                |
| 4      | PUNJAB                                       |                 3519 | 650               | 650                |
| 5      | RAJASTHAN                                    |                  642 | 641               | 641                |
| 6      | TELANGANA                                    |                  637 | 572               | 572                |
| 7      | GUJARAT                                      |                  751 | 552               | 552                |
| 8      | KARNATAKA                                    |                  975 | 529               | 529                |
| 9      | HARYANA                                      |                  569 | 433               | 433                |
| 10     | WEST BENGAL                                  |                  808 | 400               | 400                |
| 11     | TAMIL NADU                                   |                 2148 | 397               | 397                |
| 12     | ANDHRA PRADESH                               |                  367 | 295               | 295                |
| 13     | CHHATTISGARH                                 |                  299 | 270               | 270                |
| 14     | ODISHA                                       |                  341 | 176               | 176                |
| 15     | KERALA                                       |                  536 | 143               | 143                |
| 16     | BIHAR                                        |                  156 | 110               | 110                |
| 17     | ASSAM                                        |                   73 | 67                | 67                 |
| 18     | HIMACHAL PRADESH                             |                  144 | 38                | 38                 |
| 19     | UTTARAKHAND                                  |                   70 | 34                | 34                 |
| 20     | JHARKHAND                                    |                   75 | 33                | 33                 |
| 21     | JAMMU AND KASHMIR                            |                   23 | 11                | 11                 |
| 22     | MEGHALAYA                                    |                    1 | 6                 | 6                  |
| 23     | THE DADRA AND NAGAR HAVELI AND DAMAN AND DIU |                    1 | 1                 | 1                  |
| 24     | DELHI                                        |                    2 | 1                 | 1                  |
| 25     | PUDUCHERRY                                   |                    1 | 1                 | 1                  |
| 26     | GOA                                          |                    3 | 1                 | 1                  |
| 27     | MANIPUR                                      |                    1 | 0.27              | 0.27               |
|        | Total                                        |                19650 | 9660              | 9660               |

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