Government Schemes • 5 min read

How to Apply for AIF Scheme: Complete Guide to the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (NAIFF)

The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), also called NAIFF (National Agriculture Infrastructure Financing Facility), is a central sector scheme of the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare that finances farm-gate and post-harvest infrastructure through bank loans. It offers a 3% per annum interest subsidy for up to 7 years and Government-paid credit guarantee cover on loans up to ₹2 crore, with lenders' rates capped at 9%. Farmers, FPOs, PACS, agri-entrepreneurs, startups and SHGs apply online on the AIF portal with a project report, and the bank sanctions the loan after verification. By 26 January 2026, ₹80,224 crore had been sanctioned for over 1.5 lakh projects under AIF, mobilising more than ₹1.27 lakh crore of investment. Cold storages, warehouses, primary processing units and custom hiring centres make up most of these projects.