Executive Summary:
This document presents the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare's response to questions regarding the AgriClinic and Agribusiness Centre (ACABC) Scheme. It provides data on the number of individuals trained and the ventures established under the scheme since its inception (2002-03 to 2024-25), including state-wise details, particularly for Maharashtra. It also outlines the government's definition of a successful ACABC venture, target success rates, and corrective measures to improve the conversion of trained agripreneurs into functional businesses.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **ACABC Scheme Statistics:**
* From 2002-03 to 2024-25, 94,276 individuals were trained under the ACABC Scheme, and 41,587 have successfully established AgriClinics and AgriBusiness Centres.
* Annexures I, II, and III provide state-wise and year-wise details, including specific data for Maharashtra.
* **Definition of a Successful Venture:**
* A successful ACABC venture is one established after completing the training program, financed through self-funding or loans, and availing applicable subsidies under the ACABC program or convergence schemes.
* Certification is required from the Project Director, ATMA, Programme Coordinator of KVK, or Head of the nearest Research Station of State Agriculture University/ICAR Institute.
* **Success Rate Targets:**
* The target success rate from 2025 onwards is prescribed as 35% of total trained candidates.
* **Reasons for Lower Success Rate of Established Entrepreneurs:**
* Difficulties in obtaining credit facilities from banks.
* Trained candidates opting for higher studies or other jobs.
* **Corrective Measures:**
* Facilitating credit facilities through various banks and financial corporations (NSFDC, NBCFDC, NSKFDC).
* Loans up to ₹10 lakh under PMMUDRA Yojana.
* Loans up to ₹10 lakh secured through hypothecation of assets.
* Coverage under the Credit Guarantee Scheme of CGTSI.
* Inclusion of ACABC activities under Priority Sector Lending norms of RBI.
* NABARD's DDMs to facilitate loan and subsidy disbursement. NTIs to submit monthly DPR status reports to DDMs, EEIs and MANAGE. DDMs to review loan sanction status during BLBC and DLCC meetings.
Impact Analysis:
* **Trained Agripreneurs:**
* *Impact:* Increased opportunities to establish and manage their own AgriClinics and AgriBusiness Centres. Improved access to credit and financial support.
* *Action Required:* Utilize training to develop viable business plans (DPRs), apply for loans and subsidies, and obtain necessary certifications.
* **Banks and Financial Institutions:**
* *Impact:* Increased lending opportunities in the agricultural sector. Reduced risk due to credit guarantee schemes and priority sector lending norms.
* *Action Required:* Provide credit facilities to trained agripreneurs under the ACABC scheme, adhere to RBI guidelines for agricultural lending, and participate in BLBC and DLCC meetings.
* **NABARD (DDMs):**
* *Impact:* Key role in coordinating and facilitating the implementation of the ACABC scheme at the district level.
* *Action Required:* Coordinate with NTIs, financing banks, and other stakeholders to ensure timely sanction and disbursement of loans and subsidies. Review loan sanction status during BLBC and DLCC meetings.
* **Nodal Training Institutes (NTIs):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for training and guiding potential agripreneurs.
* *Action Required:* Provide quality training, assist in developing DPRs, and submit monthly statements on DPR status to DDMs, EEIs and MANAGE.
Key Entities Referenced
AgriClinic and Agribusiness Centre ACABC Scheme: A scheme by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to train individuals and support the establishment of agriclinics and agribusiness centers.
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: The Indian government ministry responsible for agriculture and farmers' welfare.
Maharashtra: A state in India with specific data reported on the ACABC scheme.
NABARD: National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, an apex development finance institution in India.
Prime Minister Micro Units Development Refinance Agency Ltd. PMMUDRA Yojana: A government scheme providing loans to micro-units, relevant for agripreneurs.
Reserve Bank of India: The central bank of India, which sets security norms for loans.
Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Small Industries CGTSI: A trust providing credit guarantee for loans to small industries, including those under the ACABC program.
National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management MANAGE: An Indian national level institute which works towards agricultural extension management.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4275
TO BE ANSWERED ON 19TH AUGUST, 2025
IMPLEMENTATION OF ACABC SCHEME
4275. SHRI SHRIRANG APPA CHANDU BARNE:
SMT. BHARTI PARDHI:
SHRI BHAUSAHEB RAJARAM WAKCHAURE
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण म(cid:287)ं ी
be pleased to state:
(a) the total number of persons trained under the Agri-Clinic and Agri-business Centre
(AC&ABC) Scheme since its inception and the number of persons who have successfully
set up agri-clinics and agri-business centres out of them, year and State-wise, particularly in
Maharashtra;
(b) the Government’s definition of a “successful” agri-clinic or agri-business centre and
the current success rate based on this definition;
(c) whether any specific target has been fixed to increase this success rate and if so, the
details thereof;
(d) whether the success rate of established entrepreneurs is lower than that of trained
candidates; and
(e) if so, the specific reasons identified for this discrepancy including the corrective
measures being taken to improve the conversion rate of trained agripreneurs into functional
businesses?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण रा(cid:207)य म(cid:287)ं ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a): The total number of persons trained under the Agri-Clinic and Agri-business Centre
(AC&ABC) Scheme since its inception and the number of persons who have successfully
set up agri-clinics and agri-business centres out of them, year and State-wise including
Maharashtra, from 2002-03 to 2024-25 are attached at Annexures I, II & III).
(b): A successful Agri-Clinic or Agri-Business Centre (AC&ABC) venture is a venture
established after completion of the AC&ABC training program with self finance or with
financial assistance through a loan and availing the applicable subsidy under AC&ABC
programme or convergence scheme with the AC&ABC Scheme, duly certified by ProjectDirector, ATMA, Programme Coordinator of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) or Head of nearest
Research Station of State Agriculture University/ICAR Institute.
(c): The targets for Success rate prescribed from 2025 onwards is 35% of total trained
candidates.
(d) & (e): Yes, the success rate of established entrepreneurs is lower than that of the trained
candidates due to reasons such as:
i. Difficulties in getting credit facilities from banks.
ii. Some of the candidates are opting for higher studies after undergoing training.
iii. Some of the trained candidates are opting for other jobs.
The corrective measures being taken to improve the conversion rate of trained agripreneurs
into functional businesses include:
(i) Credit facilities from Commercial Banks, Regional Rural Banks, State Cooperative
Banks, State Cooperative Agriculture, Rural Development Banks and other NABARD-
refinance-eligible institutions. In addition, National Scheduled Castes Finance and
Development Corporation (NSFDC), National Backward Classes Finance and Development
Corporation (NBCFDC) and National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development
Corporation (NSKFDC) are also extending credit facilities to Agri-preneurs.
(ii) Loans up to ₹10 lakh are extended under the Prime Minister Micro Units
Development & Refinance Agency Ltd. (PMMUDRA) Yojana, as per eligibility.
(iii) As per Reserve Bank of India’s security norms for tiny industries, loans up to ₹10
lakh are secured through hypothecation of assets created, without the need for additional
collateral.
(iv) Most of the activities are covered under the Credit Guarantee Scheme of Credit
Guarantee Fund Trust for Small Industries (CGTSI), ensuring enhanced credit access and
reduced risk for entrepreneurs.
(v) Activities listed under the AC&ABC programme fall under the Priority Sector
Lending norms of the RBI Master Direction, for Agricultural Sector ensuring favorable
lending terms.
(vi) NABARD’s District Development Managers (DDMs) facilitate timely sanction and
disbursement of loans and subsidies to Agri-preneurs under the AC&ABC Scheme by
coordinating with Nodal Training Institutes (NTIs), financing banks, and other stakeholders.
NTIs are required to submit a monthly statement on the status of Detailed Project Report
(DPR) to the concerned DDMs, Extension Education Institutes (EEIs) and National Institute
of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE). The DDMs review the status of loan
sanctions on the DPRs during Block Level Bankers Committee (BLBC) and District Level
Consultative Committee (DLCC) meetings.Annexure-I
State wise details of number of persons trained and who have successfully set up
agri-clinics and agri-business centres (AC&ABC):
Sl. No. State Number of Number of agri-clinics and agri
persons Trained business centres set up
1. Andhra Pradesh 1838 538
2. Arunachal Pradesh 48 3
3. Assam 845 281
4. Bihar 4575 1630
5. Chandigarh 4 2
6. Chhattisgarh 1036 425
7. Delhi 44 6
8. Goa 19 10
9. Gujarat 2309 916
10. Haryana 755 251
11. Himachal Pradesh 431 112
12. Jammu and Kashmir 1556 191
13. Jharkhand 835 222
14. Karnataka 4883 1968
15. Kerala 304 87
16. Madhya Pradesh 5844 2686
17. Maharashtra 26136 13238
18. Manipur 522 135
19. Meghalaya 37 4
20. Mizoram 52 0
21. Nagaland 187 22
22. Orissa 643 116
23. Pondicherry 159 92
24. Punjab 671 225
25. Rajasthan 5150 2042
26. Sikkim 9 1
27. Tamil Nadu 10085 5091
28. Telangana 2430 665
29. Tripura 6 2
30. Uttar Pradesh 20961 10071
31. Uttaranchal 626 212
32. West Bengal 1276 343
Total 94276 41587Annexure-II
Year wise details of number of persons trained and who have successfully
established agri-clinics and agri-business centres (AC&ABC):
Sl. No. Financial Year Candidates Trained Candidates Established Ventures
1. 2002 - 2003 2400 416
2. 2003 - 2004 1828 457
3. 2004 - 2005 2925 784
4. 2005 - 2006 2894 1416
5. 2006 - 2007 3149 1081
6. 2007 - 2008 2742 1040
7. 2008 - 2009 2504 1011
8. 2009 - 2010 2564 1111
9. 2010 - 2011 3224 1292
10. 2011 - 2012 4015 2136
11. 2012 - 2013 4424 2250
12. 2013 - 2014 4451 2321
13. 2014 - 2015 5437 2545
14. 2015 - 2016 5259 2582
15. 2016 - 2017 5728 2807
16. 2017 - 2018 5646 2490
17. 2018 - 2019 6600 2392
18. 2019 - 2020 7340 626
19. 2020 - 2021 1190 2475
20. 2021 - 2022 5669 3411
21. 2022 - 2023 4794 2734
22. 2023 - 2024 4964 2511
23. 2024 - 2025 4529 1699
Total 94276 41587Annexure-III
Yearwise details of number of persons trained and who have successfully established
agri-clinics and agri-business centres (AC&ABC) in Maharashtra State:
Sl. No. Financial Year Candidates Trained Candidates Established Ventures
1. 2002 - 2003 348 58
2. 2003 - 2004 212 119
3. 2004 - 2005 482 188
4. 2005 - 2006 560 292
5. 2006 - 2007 524 118
6. 2007 - 2008 508 171
7. 2008 - 2009 361 207
8. 2009 - 2010 507 162
9. 2010 - 2011 920 357
10. 2011 - 2012 1244 750
11. 2012 - 2013 1102 595
12. 2013 - 2014 1157 617
13. 2014 - 2015 1588 797
14. 2015 - 2016 1488 754
15. 2016 - 2017 1443 996
16. 2017 - 2018 1610 843
17. 2018 - 2019 1875 934
18. 2019 - 2020 2425 199
19. 2020 - 2021 493 1040
20. 2021 - 2022 2092 1355
21. 2022 - 2023 1669 1242
22. 2023 - 2024 1725 770
23. 2024 - 2025 1803 674
Total 26136 13238
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