Parliament Question: Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 257 ANSWERED ON 21st JULY, 2026 ANIMAL HUSBANDRY INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT FUND 257. SHRI DUSHYANT SINGH: Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING मत्स्यपालन, पशुपालन और डेयरी मंत्री be pleased to state: (a) the steps taken by the Government under the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) to promote investment in modern dairy processing, cold chain, storage and value addition infrastructure in the country; (b) whether any specific projects or initiatives have been sanctioned under AHIDF in Rajasthan and if so, the details thereof, including measures taken by the Government to encourage participation of the private sector and dairy cooperatives; (c) the steps being taken by the Government to enhance milk processing capacity and farmer’s remuneration, particularly for small and marginal dairy producers; and (d) the measures taken by the Government to strengthen extension services, capacity building, awareness programmes and last-mile delivery mechanisms so as to ensure wider adoption of improved technologies and best practices in the livestock sector? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH) (a) The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), GoI is implementing the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) to incentivize establishment of modern dairy processing and infrastructure for establishment of new units and strengthening of existing dairy processing units with quality and hygienic milk processing facilities,packaging facilities and value-added dairy product manufacturing units, cold storage, refrigerated vans. The Eligible Entities are Individuals, MSME, Private Companies, FPO, Dairy Cooperatives and Section 8 companies. The scheme envisages 3% interest subvention for eight years with a two-year moratorium on term loan up to 90% of the project cost borrowed from scheduled banks and institutions such as NABARD, NCDC, NDDB, and SIDBI. In addition, the Central Government has established a Credit Guarantee Trust to provide Credit Guarantee up to 25% of term loan to MSME and Dairy Cooperatives. The Trust is maintained by NABARD through its subsidiary NAB Sanrakshan Trustee Pvt. Ltd. Eligible Entities can also take benefit of dovetailing with various Central and State Government initiatives to ensure holistic growth of the dairy ecosystem. (b) A total of 13 dairy projects have been approved with the project cost of Rs 213.07 crore for the State of Rajasthan with the processing capacity of 15.95 Lakh Litre Per Day (LLPD). District-wise approved projects for Rajasthan under AHIDF is as under: S No District Name Number of Project Cost Term Interest Subvention Projects (₹ in Cr.) Loan (₹ Released (₹ in Cr.) in Cr.) 1 Ajmer 2 4.13 2.29 0.09 2 Alwar 1 1.13 0.74 0.06 3 Bikaner 1 9.89 2.50 0.07 4 Dholpur 1 17.30 10.00 1.26 5 Hanumangarh 1 10.79 3.25 0.18 6 Jaipur 2 68.50 34.00 0.37 7 Jodhpur 1 21.30 14.80 0.24 Sawai 8 Madhopur 1 13.67 8.93 0.70 9 Sirohi 2 66.11 33.07 2.00 10 Udaipur 1 0.25 0.23 0.01 Total 13 213.07 109.80 4.97 The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, (DAHD), GoI has undertaken regular coordination with Banks and Industry associations to encourage participation of private sector entities and dairy cooperatives under AHIDF. (c) The DAHD, GoI is implementing National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD). Component A of NPDD focuses on creating/strengthening of infrastructure for quality milk testing equipment as well as primary milk chilling facilities. The Component ‘B’ of the NPDD scheme "Dairying through Cooperatives” aims to increase sale of milk and dairy products byincreasing farmer’s access to organized market, upgrading dairy processing facilities and marketing infrastructure. In addition, under Supporting Dairy Cooperatives and Farmer Producer Organizations engaged in dairy activities (SDCFPO) interest subvention on Working capital loans is provided to assist the Cooperative Milk Unions and Farmer Producer organizations engaged in dairy activities to tide over the crisis on account of severely adverse market conditions or natural calamities. An interest subvention of 2% per annum on the working capital loan is provided to the Producer Owned Institutes (POIs.). Further, for prompt and timely repayment of loan, an additional 2% per annum interest subvention is also payable at the end of the loan repayment/interest servicing period The infrastructure created under the AHIDF, help in creating increased Milk processing capacity, market linkages for livestock farmers and thus enable livestock producers to get remunerative prices for their produce. (d) The DAHD, GoI undertakes awareness programmes, webinars, stakeholder meetings, training programmes and outreach activities through State Governments, implementing agencies and industry associations. Regular review meetings with lending institutions, State Nodal Agencies and other stakeholders are conducted to facilitate implementation and improve outreach. The DAHD, GoI t also organizes virtual awareness camps through Common Service Centers (CSCs) on departmental schemes, fodder development, Cattle and Dairy farming, and the prevention and control of livestock diseases. ***