The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) provides support for?

Question

The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) provides support for?

1. A. Free fertilizers
2. B. Agri-logistics and cold chains (Correct answer)
3. C. Cash transfers
4. D. MGNREGA work

Correct Answer

Option B — Agri-logistics and cold chains

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is Agri-logistics and cold chains.

Key Points

• The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), launched in 2020, is a financing facility for post-harvest management infrastructure and community farming assets.
• It funds cold storage, warehouses, grading and sorting units, primary processing centres and logistics facilities — the assets that reduce post-harvest loss and improve price realisation.
• It provides medium- and long-term debt with an interest subvention, not free inputs or cash transfers, which rules out the other options.

Additional Information

• The scheme carries a corpus of ₹1 lakh crore, with 3% interest subvention on loans up to ₹2 crore and credit guarantee cover under CGTMSE.
• Eligible beneficiaries include farmers, FPOs, PACS, SHGs, agri-entrepreneurs and start-ups.
• Related agricultural schemes to keep distinct: PM-KISAN (income support of ₹6,000 a year), PMFBY (crop insurance), e-NAM (online trading platform), PM-KUSUM (solar pumps) and Soil Health Card.
• India loses a substantial share of horticultural produce post-harvest, which is the gap the AIF is designed to close.

प्रश्न (हिन्दी में)

कृषि अवसंरचना कोष (AIF) किसके लिए सहायता प्रदान करता है?

1. A. निःशुल्क उर्वरक
2. B. कृषि-लॉजिस्टिक्स और कोल्ड चेन
3. C. नकद हस्तांतरण
4. D. मनरेगा कार्य