Agri Clinics and Agri Business Centres Scheme

About the Scheme

• The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, Government of India, in association with NABARD and MANAGE has launched this unique scheme to take better methods of farming to each and every farmer across the country. This programme aims to tap the expertise available in the large pool of Agriculture Graduates. Irrespective of whether you are a fresh graduate or not, or whether you are currently employed or not, you can set up your own AgriClinic or AgriBusiness Centre and offer professional extension services to innumerable farmers.
• Committed to this programme, the Government is now also providing start-up training to graduates in Agriculture, or any subject allied to Agriculture like Horticulture, Sericulture, Veterinary Sciences, Forestry, Dairy, Poultry farming, and Fisheries, etc. Those completing the training can apply for special start-up loans for venture.
• The scheme covers full financial support for training and handholding, provision of loan and credit-linked back-end composite subsidy.

Objectives

• To supplement efforts of public extension by necessarily providing extension and other services to the farmers on payment basis or free of cost as per business model of agri-preneur, local needs and affordability of target group of farmers
• To support agricultural development.
• To create gainful self-employment opportunities to unemployed agricultural graduates, agricultural diploma holders, intermediate in agriculture and biological science graduates with PG in agri-related courses.

Concept

Agriclinics : Agri-Clinics are envisaged to provide expert advice and services to farmers on various aspects to enhance productivity of crops/animals and increase the incomes of farmers. Agri-Clinics provide support in the following areas:

• Soil health
• Cropping practices
• Plant protection
• Crop insurance
• Post-harvest technology
• Clinical services for animals, feed and fodder management
• Prices of various crops in the market, etc.

Agribusiness Centres : Agri-Business Centres are commercial units of agri-ventures established by trained agriculture professionals. Such ventures may include maintenance and custom hiring of farm equipment, sale of inputs and other services in agriculture and allied areas, including post-harvest management and market linkages for income generation and entrepreneurship development.

Eligibility

The scheme is open to following categories of candidates:

1. Graduates in agriculture and allied subjects from SAUs/ Central Agricultural Universities/ Universities recognized by ICAR/ UGC. Degree in Agriculture and allied subjects offered by other agencies are also considered subject to approval of Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, Government of India on recommendation of the State Government.
2. Diploma (with at least 50% marks)/ Post Graduate Diploma holders in Agriculture and allied subjects from State Agricultural Universities, State Agriculture and Allied Departments and State Department of Technical Education.
3. Diploma in Agriculture and allied subjects offered by other agencies are also considered subject to approval of Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, Government of India on recommendation of the State Government.
4. Biological Science Graduates with Post Graduation in Agriculture & allied subjects.
5. Degree courses recognized by UGC having more than 60 percent of the course content in Agriculture and allied subjects.
6. Diploma/Post-graduate Diploma courses with more than 60 percent of course content in Agriculture and allied subjects, after B.Sc. with Biological Sciences, from recognized colleges and universities.
7. Agriculture related courses at intermediate (i.e. plus two) level, with at least 55% marks.

The scheme covers full financial support for training and handholding, provision of loan and credit linked back ended composite subsidy as per the details given in the following section

Project activities

• Extension consultancy services
• Soil and water quality cum inputs testing laboratories (with Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometers)
• Pest surveillance, diagnostic and control services
• Maintenance, repairs and custom hiring of agricultural implements and machinery including micro irrigation systems (sprinkler and drip)
• Agri Service Centres including the three activities mentioned above (Group Activity).
• Seed Processing Units
• Micro-propagation through Plant Tissue Culture Labs and Hardening Units
• Setting up of Vermiculture units, production of bio-fertilisers, bio-pesticides, bio-control agents.
• Setting up of Apiaries (bee-keeping) and honey & bee products' processing units
• Provision of Extension Consultancy Services
• Hatcheries and production of fish finger-lings for aquaculture
• Provision of livestock health cover, setting up veterinary dispensaries & services including frozen semen banks and liquid nitrogen supply
• Setting up of Information Technology Kiosks in rural areas for access to various agriculture related portals
• Feed Processing and testing units
• Value Addition Centres
• Setting up of Cool Chain fro the farm level onwards (Group Activity)
• Retail marketing outlets for processed agri-products
• Rural marketing dealerships of farm inputs and outputs

Any combination of two or more of the above viable activities along with any other economically viable activity selected by the Graduates, which is acceptable to the Bank

Related Resources

1. Revised Agri Clinics and Agri Business Centres Scheme
2. ACABC Training Content
3. Online application for admission to training under Agriclinics and Agribusiness scheme
4. List of Model Projects
5. List of recognized Training Organizations for this Scheme
6. ACABC Success Stories
7. Agripreneur e-bulletin

Source: www.agriclinics.net