AHIDF - Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund

AHIDF Scheme

Introduction

The Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development (AHIDF) has been approved for incentivizing investments by various stakeholders such as individual entrepreneurs, Private Companies, MSME’s, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and section 8 companies.

It aims to establish Dairy Processing and Value Addition Infrastructure, Meat Processing and Value Addition Infrastructure, and an Animal Feed Plant.

Objective

  • To support the expansion of the milk and meat processing capacity and the diversification of products, ultimately enhancing the access of unorganized rural milk and meat producers to organized markets.
  • To ensure producers benefit from higher price realization.
  • Providing top quality milk and meat products for local consumers.
  • To meet the protein-enriched food needs of the increasing population and combat malnutrition in one of the largest malnourished child populations globally.
  • To develop the entrepreneurships and create job opportunities.
  • To enhance export activities and boost the export share in the dairy and meat industry.
  • To ensure the livestock such as cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, pigs and poultry have access to high-quality concentrated feed. Thus, offering a balanced diet at reasonable rates. 

Eligibility of AHIDF

The following entities are eligible under AHIDF

  • Farmer Producer Organizations.
  • Private Companies.
  • Individual Entrepreneurs.
  • Section 8 Companies.
  • Micro Small and Medium Enterprises.

Activities Covered

Dairy Sector:

Establishment of new units and strengthening of existing dairy processing units with quality and hygienic milk processing facilities, packaging facilities or any other activities related to dairy processing.

Product Diversification: 

The Eligible entities have the option to obtain a loan for establishing new units or enhancing existing manufacture units. This can include adding value to various milk products such as Ice Cream Units, Cheese Manufacturing units, Ultra High Temperature (UHT) Milk Processing Units with tetra packaging facilities, Flavored milk Manufacturing Units, Milk Powder Manufacturing units, Whey Powder Manufacturing Units.  

Meat Sector:

Establishment of new meat processing unit and the enhancement of existing meat processing facilities for sheep, goats, poultry, pigs, and buffalo in rural, semi-urban, and urban areas.

A specialized facility for processing in meat on a large scale. Expansion into product diversification involves setting up new value addition facilities or enhancing existing ones for meat products such as sausage, nuggets, ham, salami, bacon or other meat items.

These facilities may serve as either an integral component of meat processing facilities or operate as standalone units for adding value to meat products.

Benefits of AHIDF

Loan Amount:

                                    Projects funded under the AHIDF can receive loans up to 90% of the estimated or actual project cost from the scheduled banks upon submission of feasible project proposals by qualified recipients.

  • In case of Micro and Small units under the defined MSME ceiling, the beneficiary contribution could be 10%, while for Medium enterprises, the contribution could increase to 15%.
  • The beneficiary contribution for various enterprise categories may reach up to 25%.

 

Lending Rate of Interest:

                                    Scheduled banks are responsible for the determining the lending rate of interest, ensuring that it does not surpass 200 basis points in addition to the External Benchmark Based Lending Rate (EBLR) for eligible entities with product costs within MSME defined limits.

  • Nevertheless, scheduled banks may determine the rate of interest for other projects based on the commercial interest rates offered by banks.

 

Interest Subvention:

                                 The department offers a 3% interest subvention to eligible entities.

  • Nevertheless, interest subvention will not be granted for loans approved for the purpose of acquiring lands, working capital, used machinery, and vehicles for personal use.
  • The eligible entities will not qualify for the interest subvention if they default on loan repayment in any year.

 

Credit Guarantee:

                              Credit guarantee will only be provided to projects that are financially feasible and fall within the defined limits for MSMEs.

  • The guarantee will cover up to 25% of the credit limit provided to the borrower.
  • Credit guarantee will not be provided to beneficiaries which are not covered by MSME regulations.
  • Nevertheless, these individuals will still be eligible for Interest Subvention.

 

Maximum Repayment Period:

                            The maximum repayment period should not cross 10 years starting from the initial disbursement date, and this timeframe should include a 2-year moratorium for the repayment of the principle amount.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund.

The project under the AHIDF shall be eligible for loan up to 90% of the estimated project cost from the Scheduled bank based on the submission of viable projects by eligible beneficiaries.

Government entities and cooperatives are not eligible under AHIDF

The interest subvention will be provided only up to 8 years of repayment period from the date of disbursement. Beyond that no interest subvention will be provided.

No, there is no upper limit/ lower limit of the loan amount.

The Scheduled banks shall ensure that maximum re-payment period should not exceed 10 years from the date of first disbursement inclusive of moratorium of 2 years on repayment of principal

In case of Micro and Small, the beneficiary could be 10%.

For, Medium enterprises, the beneficiary could go up to 15%.

In other categories of enterprises, the beneficiary contribution could go up to 25%.

Conclusion

                         The Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) aims to improve infrastructure for the livestock sector, enhancing the productivity, processing, and value chain of dairy, meat, and other animal products. The scheme supports investments in building facilities related to breeding, feeding, and health management, as well as improving  cold chain infrastructure and processing units.

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