Agri-Clinics And Agri-Business Centres Scheme in Alwar
AC&ABC
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
Guidance for businesses in Alwar
A welfare scheme by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare was launched in 2002. AC&ABC aims at agricultural development, supplementing the efforts of public extension by providing extension and other services to farmers either on a payment basis or free of cost as per the business model.
At a glance
- Scheme Name
- Agri-Clinics And Agri-Business Centres Scheme (AC&ABC)
- Launched
- 2002
- Nodal Ministry
- Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
- Age Range
- 18–60 years
- Subsidy Channel
- NABARD
- Training
- 45 days residential training
Benefits
Agri-Clinics are envisaged to provide expert advice and services to farmers to enhance the productivity of crops/animals and increase incomes, covering soil health, cropping practices, plant protection, crop insurance, post-harvest technology, clinical services for animals, feed and fodder management, market prices, etc. Agri-Business Centres are commercial units of agri-ventures established by trained agriculture professionals, including maintenance and custom hiring of farm equipment, sale of inputs, and other services in agriculture and allied areas, including post-harvest management and market linkages. The scheme covers full financial support for training and handholding, provision of loans, and credit-linked back-end composite subsidy.
Extension consultancy services
Soil and water quality cum inputs testing laboratories (with Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometers)
Pest surveillance, diagnostic and control services
Maintenance, repairs, and custom hiring of agricultural implements and machinery including micro-irrigation systems (sprinkler and drip)
Seed Processing Units
Micro-propagation through Plant Tissue Culture Labs and Hardening Units
Setting up of Vermiculture units, production of bio-fertilizers, bio-pesticides, and bio-control agents
Setting up of Apiaries (bee-keeping) and honey & bee products' processing units
Hatcheries and production of fish fingerlings for aquaculture
Provision of livestock health cover, veterinary dispensaries & services including frozen semen banks and liquid nitrogen supply
Setting up of Information Technology Kiosks in rural areas
Feed Processing and testing units
Value Addition Centres
Setting up of Cool Chain from the farm level onwards (Group Activity)
Retail marketing outlets for processed agri-products
Rural marketing dealerships of farm inputs and outputs
Eligibility
- The age of the applicant must be between 18 and 60 years.
- Graduates in agriculture and allied subjects from SAUs/Central Agricultural Universities/Universities recognized by ICAR/UGC. Degrees offered by other agencies are also considered subject to the approval of the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, Government of India on the recommendation of the State Government.
- Diploma (with at least 50% marks)/Post Graduate Diploma holders in Agriculture and allied subjects from State Agricultural Universities, State Agriculture and Allied Departments, and State Department of Technical Education. Diplomas offered by other agencies are also considered subject to approval as above.
- 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.
Documents required
- Applicant Aadhaar Number.
- Email ID.
- Latest Educational Qualification.
- Applicant's Bank Account Details.
- Applicant photo.
- Till Aadhaar is assigned: Aadhaar enrolment ID slip/Copy of request for Aadhaar enrolment and Voter Identity Card/PAN/Passport/Ration Card/Employee Government ID/Passbook of Bank or Post Office/MGNREGS Card/Kisan Photo Passport/Driving Licence/any other document as specified by State/UT.
How to apply
Exclusion: Retired employees getting pensionary benefits are not eligible for subsidy. However, they can undergo training and establish self-financed projects.
- 1
Visit the Official Website.
- 2
Fill in the mandatory fields correctly. Upload the required documents in the said format and size.
- 3
Click "Submit" to complete the application process. The applicant can check his/her application status by visiting the tracking link.
About the scheme
The Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Centres (AC&ABC) scheme, launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare in 2002, creates gainful self-employment for agriculture graduates, diploma holders, and biological science graduates with agri-related PG. It supplements public extension by providing services to farmers, with NABARD acting as the subsidy channelising agency. The government provides start-up training and special start-up loans.
Why it matters
- Self-Employment:
- Gainful ventures for agriculture graduates and diploma holders.
- Training & Loans:
- Free training, handholding, loans, and credit-linked subsidy.
- Farmer Services:
- Extension and expert services to boost farm productivity.
- Entrepreneurship:
- Encourages agri-preneurship and rural business development.
Focus areas
- Agri-Clinics:
- Expert advice on soil health, cropping, plant protection, and more.
- Agri-Business Centres:
- Custom hiring, input sales, post-harvest and market linkages.
- Self-Employment:
- Training, loans, and subsidy for agri-ventures.
Is this scheme right for you?
The AC&ABC scheme turns agriculture graduates and diploma holders into agri-preneurs—providing training, loans, and subsidy to set up agri-clinics and agri-business centres that serve farmers and create self-employment. If you are an agriculture graduate or diploma holder aged 18–60, this scheme can help you launch your own agri-venture.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a crop loan per acre?
DBT will be given at the rate of Rs 4,000 per acre per season for cropping while zero-interest loan will be at the rate of Rs 50,000 per hectare to be capped at Rs 1 lakh per farmer, sources told BusinessToday.In. The crop loan is already offered to farmers at a subsidized rate of 4 percent only.
What is the lock in period for bank loans?
A beneficiary cannot close the bank loans within three years from the date of availing loans.
What is the subsidy pattern?
The subsidy is 36% of the Total Financial Outlay (TFO) for General Category candidates and 44% for Women, SC/ST/NE and Hilly State Candidates.
Is there any other condition for eligibility?
Yes, retired employees getting pensionary benefits are not eligible for subsidy. However, they can undergo training and establish self financed projects.
Is there any upper ceiling for the project cost?
Yes, the upper ceiling for the project cost eligible for subsidy is Rs. 20 Lakhs for individual projects and Rs. 100 Lakh for group projects. For extremely successful individual projects the ceiling is Rs. 25 Lakh.
Can the candidates undertake group projects?
Yes, the candidates are allowed to undertake group projects, if the group consists of a total of five or more persons trained under the scheme.
What will happen if the project is not completed?
If the project is not completed within the stipulated period, benefit of subsidy shall not be available and advance subsidy placed with the participating bank, if any, will have to be refunded forthwith to NABARD.
What is the duration of the training?
45 days of residential training for the students who are desirous of setting up agri-clinics and agri-business centers.
Apply for AC&ABC with a specialist
Share your number and our team prepares every document, files every form, and stays with you through sanction and disbursement.
Or check my fit firstRelated schemes
AC&ABC
Does this fit my business?
Connect With Us
For Any Inquiries Or Assistance, Please Feel Free To Reach Out. Our Team Is Here To Support You And Will Respond At The Earliest Convenience