Centre makes mandis eligible for loans under Rs 1 trn Agri Infra Fund

State-level agencies and cooperatives are also eligible for loans up to Rs 2 cr to build farm gate storage infra and processing facilities at interest subvention of 3%

The union cabinet today approved a host of changes into the Rs one trillion Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), including bringing Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMCs) or regulated mandis within its ambit, a move which the government showcased as its commitment to keep them functioning.

One key apprehension of the protesting farmers against the three reform acts brought last year has been that once the laws come into effect, the mandis will be dismantled, as lured by low taxes, trading will shift outside their ambit.

Apart from APMCs, the revised guidelines have also made state level agencies and cooperatives, eligible to