Guwahati, July 25: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday reaffirmed the state government's commitment to transforming agriculture into a modern, profitable, and future-ready sector while attending the State-level Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) Workshop and Awareness Programme at the Jyoti-Bishnu International Auditorium in Guwahati.
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| Caption: | Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma addresses the State-level Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) Workshop and Awareness Programme at Jyoti-Bishnu International Auditorium in Guwahati. (Image: X/CMOfficeAssam) |
The workshop brought together nearly 5,000 farmers, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), cooperatives, Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), Self-Help Groups (SHGs), agri-entrepreneurs, and financial institutions to raise awareness about the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund scheme and its benefits.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister highlighted that the AIF provides loans of up to ₹2 crore, along with a 3% annual interest subvention for up to seven years and credit guarantee support for eligible agricultural infrastructure projects.
Assam has been allocated ₹2,050 crore under the scheme, which aims to strengthen post-harvest infrastructure through investments in warehouses, cold storage facilities, drones, solar-powered irrigation pumps, and primary processing units. The initiative is expected to improve value addition, reduce post-harvest losses, and enhance farmers' incomes across the state.
The Chief Minister also noted the Centre's decision to expand the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund with a ₹1 lakh crore top-up, urging farmers, FPOs, PACS, SHGs, and agri-entrepreneurs to take full advantage of the opportunities available under the scheme.
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Emphasizing the need for modern warehouses and processing facilities, Sarma said such infrastructure would help maximize the value of high-value crops and make Assam's agricultural sector more competitive.
In a significant announcement, the Chief Minister said the Assam Government would provide additional state support to beneficiaries under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund. Under the initiative, the state will bear 5% of the mandatory 10% equity contribution required from individual beneficiaries, supplementing the assistance provided by the Central Government.
The move is expected to encourage greater participation in the scheme, accelerate the development of modern agricultural infrastructure, promote value addition, and foster agri-entrepreneurship across Assam.
