Patna: Bihar Agriculture Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha has said the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) scheme is bringing “revolutionary changes” to the state’s agricultural sector through large-scale investments in farm infrastructure, storage and mechanisation.
Describing the scheme as a major step towards strengthening agriculture and rural industries, the Minister said Bihar had sanctioned 2,045 projects under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund as of November 4, 2025.
According to the Minister, projects worth Rs 1,650.37 crore have been approved under the scheme in the state.
Warehouses And Farm Mechanisation Receive Major Push
The Agriculture Minister said the largest share of investment under the scheme had gone towards enhancing storage capacity.
A total of:
- 834 warehouse projects
- 591 farm mechanisation and harvesting projects
have been sanctioned across Bihar.
In addition:
- 315 Primary Processing Centres have been established for crop value addition
- 196 Custom Hiring Centres have been created to provide agricultural machinery on rent to small and marginal farmers
Officials said the initiative was aimed at reducing post-harvest losses, improving supply chains and modernising farming practices.
Scheme Covers Modern Agricultural Infrastructure
The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund also supports projects related to:
- cold chains
- silos
- pack-houses
- logistics infrastructure
- ripening chambers
- e-marketing platforms
- organic input production units
- smart and precision farming technologies
The Minister said the scheme was helping create modern agricultural assets across rural Bihar while opening new opportunities for agri-based entrepreneurship.
Interest Subsidy And Credit Guarantee Benefits
Highlighting the benefits available under the scheme, Vijay Kumar Sinha said:
- loans up to Rs 2 crore receive a 3% annual interest subvention
- the subsidy remains available for up to seven years
- applicants can establish up to 25 projects at different locations
He further said loans up to Rs 2 crore are also eligible for credit guarantee coverage under the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises scheme.
According to the Minister, the government bears the guarantee fee for up to seven years, eliminating the need for collateral or guarantees in eligible cases.
Officials added that investors are required to contribute a minimum of only 10% of the total project cost from their own resources.
Wide Eligibility Criteria
The Minister said the scheme’s eligibility criteria were broad and inclusive.
Those eligible include:
- individual farmers
- startups
- Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)
- Self-Help Groups (SHGs)
- Joint Liability Groups (JLGs)
- Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS)
- food processing units
- traders
- storage providers
- local bodies
- PPP-based projects
Vijay Kumar Sinha appealed to farmers, entrepreneurs and young people to take maximum advantage of the scheme.
Online Application Process
The Minister described the application process as “simple and transparent”.
Interested applicants can:
- register online
- submit applications
- upload Detailed Project Reports (DPRs)
through the scheme’s official portal: Agriculture Infrastructure Fund Portal
The Agriculture Minister said the Bihar government remained committed to improving farmer prosperity and promoting agriculture-based industries, adding that the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund was emerging as a major instrument in achieving those goals.
