Question

Which scheme promotes the creation of post-harvest management infrastructure and community farm assets in India?

• A. Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation (SMAM)
• B. PM KISAN
• C. Agriculture Infrastructure Fund
• D. Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS)

Hint:

Associate the keyword "Infrastructure" in the question directly with the "Agriculture Infrastructure Fund".
This fund offers up to \( 2 \, \text{crore rupees} \) of loan with interest subvention and credit guarantee coverage.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Inadequate post-harvest infrastructure is a major cause of agricultural produce loss and reduced farmer income.
The Government of India launches specialized financing facilities to incentivize public and private investments in agricultural supply chains.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) is a medium- to long-term debt financing facility launched in July 2020 under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat package.
The key objective of this fund is to mobilize capital for investing in viable post-harvest management infrastructure and community farming assets.
It provides a total of \( 1 \, \text{lakh crore rupees} \) through banks and financial institutions as loans with a \( 3\% \) interest subvention per annum.
Eligible projects include:
- Post-harvest assets: Cold storage, warehouses, pack houses, assaying units, sorting and grading units, and ripening chambers.
- Community assets: Organic input production units, smart precision farming assets, and custom hiring centers.
In contrast:
- SMAM focuses specifically on farm mechanization and machinery.
- PM-KISAN is a direct income support scheme providing cash transfers to farmers.
- MISS provides interest subvention on short-term crop loans, not infrastructure development.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund is the scheme dedicated to promoting post-harvest management infrastructure and community farm assets.