To ensure that Dairy Cooperatives remain competitive for the sustained benefit of farmers, the Government of India had announced creation of Dairy Processing and Infrastructure Development Fund under National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) with a total corpus of Rs. 8000 crore over a period of 3 years (i.e. 2017-18 to 2019-20), in the Union Budget of 2017-18. The Dairy Infrastructure Development Fund (DIDF) has been subsumed in Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) vide cabinet approval dated 01.02.2024. Objectives of the scheme The scheme have been designed with the following objectives: To help increasing of milk processing capacity and product diversification thereby providing greater access for unorganized rural milk producers to organized milk market To make available increased price realization for the producer To make available quality milk products for the domestic consumer To fulfill the objective of protein enriched quality food requirement of the growing population of the country and prevent malnutrition in one of the highest malnourished children population in the world Develop entrepreneurship and generate employment To promote exports and increase the export contribution in the milk sector To make available quality concentrated animals feed to the cattle and buffalo to provide balanced ration at affordable prices Scheme Area The scheme will be implemented across the country. Beneficiaries Following are the eligible entities for availing benefits under the AHIDF Scheme Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) Private companies Individual entrepreneurs Section 8 companies Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Components of the scheme The components of the scheme are as under: 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. Value added dairy product manufacturing Animal Feed manufacturing units and strengthening of existing Breed Improvement Technology and Breed Multiplication Farm Setting up of Veterinary Vaccine and Drugs Production facilities Animal Waste to Wealth Management (Agri-waste management) Benefits The Loan Component would be 90% (maximum) and the end borrower's contribution - 10 % (minimum). The beneficiary contribution in case of Micro and Small units as per MSME defined ceiling could be 10% while in case of Medium Enterprises as per defined MSME ceiling, beneficiary contribution could go up to 15%. The beneficiary contribution in other categories of enterprises could go up to 25% or more. Interest subvention: 3% for all Eligible Entities. The credit guarantee will be provided only for those projects which are viable and are covered under MSME defined ceilings and the guarantee coverage would be up to 25% of the credit facility available to the borrower. The period of repayment will be 10 years with initial two years moratorium. For online application and more information, visit https://ahidf.udyamimitra.in/index.html