Parliament Question: Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund

**Executive Summary** This document is a response to Unstarred Question No. 1441 in Lok Sabha regarding the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF). It outlines the expansion and intensification of support under the AHIDF for value-added products in the dairy and meat sectors, targeted assistance to small-scale units, and measures to promote export-focused infrastructure projects. The AHIDF scheme will continue until 31.03.2026. **Key Points / Main Content** * **AHIDF Expansion and Realignment:** * The AHIDF has been realigned in 2024 with an expanded outlay of ₹29610.25 crore, subsuming the Dairy Infrastructure Development Fund (DIDF) to extend benefits to Dairy Cooperatives. * Support is provided for a wide range of value-added dairy and meat products, along with allied infrastructure like waste-to-wealth, vaccines/drugs, and breeds multiplication farms. * **Financial Provisions:** * A 3% interest subvention is provided under AHIDF, with an 8-year repayment period (including a 2-year moratorium). * This is available for individual entrepreneurs, Private Companies, MSMEs, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Section 8 Companies, and Dairy Cooperatives. * **Eligibility and Requirements:** * The AHIDF Scheme is open to individual entrepreneurs, Private Companies, MSMEs, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Section 8 Companies, and Dairy Cooperatives. * There is no prescribed ceiling or minimum cap on the project cost. * Applicants must contribute a minimum of 10% equity towards the project. * The balance funding is to be arranged through term loans from eligible lending institutions. * **Objectives:** * The initiative aims to improve the availability of high-quality milk and meat products for domestic consumers. * One of the objectives of AHIDF is to boost exports by enhancing processing capacity with quality production. * The Scheme will continue until 31.03.2026. **Impact Analysis** **Stakeholder: Individual Entrepreneurs, Private Companies, MSMEs, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Section 8 Companies, and Dairy Cooperatives.** **Impact:** Access to financial support (3% interest subvention) for infrastructure development related to value-added dairy and meat products, with no project cost ceiling, but requires a 10% equity contribution. **Action Required:** Prepare project proposals and arrange for 10% equity contribution. Secure term loans from eligible lending institutions such as Scheduled Banks, NCDC, NDDB, NABARD, and SIDBI to fund the remaining project cost. **Stakeholder: Domestic Consumers** **Impact:** Improved availability of high-quality milk and meat products, contributing to better nutrition and addressing malnutrition. **Action Required:** No direct action required. **Stakeholder: Livestock Products Exporters** **Impact:** Increased capacity to enhance processing quality, boosting export of livestock products. **Action Required:** Utilise the infrastructure established under AHIDF to enhance the processing capacity with quality production. **Stakeholder: Lending Institutions (Scheduled Banks, NCDC, NDDB, NABARD, SIDBI)** **Impact:** Opportunity to provide term loans for AHIDF projects, with associated interest income. **Action Required:** Evaluate loan applications for AHIDF projects and disburse funds accordingly.

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