Agri clinics and Agri business scheme

Agri clinics and Agri business scheme is mainly to promote the establishment of Agri-clinics and Agri-business centres and boost agricultural sector thereby. This scheme helps the Graduates and Diploma holder farmers or agri-preneurs who want to pursue their living in agriculture. This scheme is launched by the government, wherein the interested candidates will undergo a training.

Key Points:

• Irrespective of the educational background and employment status, any individual who wishes to pursue agriculture as a living and a career can apply under this scheme.
• Individuals undergo training for 2 months at the training centre feasible to the individual
• Post training the individuals can set up their Agri clinics and Agri centres anywhere across the state.
• Agri-Clinics are established to provide expert advice and services to farmers on various aspects to enhance productivity of crops/animals and increase the incomes of farmers.
• 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
• Ceiling of the project cost has been increased to Rs. 20 lakhs for an individual project and Rs 100 lakhs for a group project.
• NABARD provides loan assistance in this scheme
• This loan can be repaid in 5-10 years with easy installments

Objectives of the Scheme: The main objective of the scheme is to develop self-employment opportunities for young individuals to develop. It helps the agri-preneurs to go ahead with the scheme and innovation to boost the agricultural development as a whole. Agri clinic and
Agri business centres will assist the other farmers on a regular basis.

Eligibility:
The scheme is open to the following categories of candidates:

• Graduates in agriculture and allied subjects from State Agriculture Universities (SAUs)/Central Agricultural Universities/Universities recognized by ICAR/UGC
• Diploma in Agriculture (with at least 50% marks)/Post Graduate Diploma holders in Agriculture
• Biological Science Graduates with Post Graduation in Agriculture & allied subjects
• Degree courses recognized by UGC having more than 60 percent of the course content in Agriculture and allied subjects
• 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.
• Agriculture related courses at Intermediate (i.e. plus two) level, with at least 55% marks.

Loan Assistance from NABARD: After the 2 months training, the applicants will be provided with a loan support to go ahead with the farm related business. Ceiling of the project cost has been increased to Rs. 20 lakhs for an individual project with an exception of 25 lakhs in case of
extremely successful project and Rs 100 lakhs for a group project (group of 5 persons). Subsidy offered by NABARD is 36% for general category and 44% for scheduled castes, SC, ST and women.

Application for training: Every interested individual has to first apply online for training. This is to ensure quality of farming business. Applicants can choose training centres as per their
convenience. For assistance, the farmer can also call this toll-free number 1800-425-1556.

Following are the details: For applying the candidates have to visit acabcmis.gov.in for filling the application form. The candidate must go through the guidelines mentioned before filling the
form, and click on ok.

Then the candidates should fill the application form with correct details like Name, Date of birth, Gender, Category, Educational details and select the training centre as per their convenience and click on Submit.

The candidates can check the application status later.

Documents Required: 
While filling the form, applicants should have the following documents with them:

•  Aadhaar card number,
• e-mail ID,
• Educational documents,
• Photo
• Bank account details, passbook document