NABARD Schemes – Subsidy, Loan, and Functions Explained

NABARD stands for National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, it is a financial institution in India that specializes in the management and provision of credit and other forms of financial assistance to the agricultural and rural sectors of the Indian economy.

Established in 1982 during the early years of the technological revolution in the country, its importance in the provision of assistance to meet the changing demands in agrarian infrastructure was profoundly felt. Being a financial institution of national significance, NABARD operates national schemes and works towards the development of rural infrastructure across the nation. Indian agriculture needs tremendous modernization and development to alleviate farmers’ distress and improve rural incomes. This requires the provision of credit to ensure that farmers reap the fruits of modernization and technological progress. Thus, NABARD has a three-pronged strategy which includes finance, development, and supervision of the agricultural sector in the country.

Operationalization of NABARD Schemes

NABARD is involved in the propagation of its various schemes through various banks and other credit-lending financial institutions across the country, including Non-banking Financial Companies (NBFCs).

The table given below charts the NABARD loan interest rates offered by NABARD for refinancing to banks and other credit-lending institutions.

The above-mentioned rates of interest are provisional and are subject to change. Besides, the addition of GST rates is also applicable in these cases.

What are the Features of NABARD Schemes

Apart from the agricultural sector, overall improvements in rural areas in the domains of cottage industries, Small scale industries (SSI), etc. is also the onus of this institution. Thus, it offers holistic support not only in the area of farming but in the rural economy. The key features of NABARD schemes are as listed below;

• Constructing infrastructure in underdeveloped areas : One of the main objectives of NABARD is to support the construction of new infrastructure in rural and underdeveloped urban areas to ensure equitable development across the country irrespective of the area’s contribution towards the economy of the nation
• Finding of refinancing the projects, hence providing adequate support : The refinancing can help stuck projects see the finish line, and also help in-progress projects expedite the completion by providing the required funding, the applicants may check who is eligible for NABARD loan to ensure that they meet the criteria
• Making credit plans which are on a district level : These NABARD loan schemes help plan and execute equitable development plans with respect to the needs of the district. Upon district level credit plan, the finer details such as which projects to be lent funding comes later
• Training and promoting handicraft artisans : Handicraft artisans are the essence of small businesses in India, NABARD finance schemes aims at providing support to these artisans which help the less earning substrata of the economy with development of economy 
• Implementing development schemes developed by the government : This is one of the most crucial role of NABARD. Once the government approves the development schemes for a particular area or project, it is NABARDs responsibility to see to it that the project sees the finish line smoothly by giving required financial support
• New project designing for development of rural areas
• Overlooking the functions of Cooperative banks and Regional rural banks (RRBs’)
• Instructing the banking sector in achieving their targets.

Functions of NABARD Schemes

In the area of refinancing, NABARD’s overall functioning is related to the holistic and integrated development of rural infrastructure and living conditions across the country. Some of the essential features of NABARD schemes pertaining to the areas of the building rural infrastructure included the following mentioned points.

• Coordination and financing of activities directly related to improvements in agriculture.
• Formulation of policies for various rural credit-lending institutions.
• Credit-lending and institutional support for the development of food parks and food processing technologies in designated areas.
• Credit-lending and support for the building and maintenance of cold storage facilities and warehouses wherever possible.
• Direct provision of both short-term and long-term credit to its borrowers and direct refinancing of Cooperative institutions.
• Specialization in the area of irrigation facilities and corollary rural infrastructure including the provision of support to marketing federations.

It is important to make a distinction between short-term and long-term refinancing activities.

Short-term Refinancing

Short-term Refinancing is related to the provision of loans and credit for the production of crops. This ensures the stability of food production in the country while at the same time ensuring the availability of cash crops for export. In the financial year 2017-2018, NABARD had sanctioned short-term loans up to an amount of Rs. 55000 across various financial institutions in the country.

Long-term Refinancing

One may wonder – How many types of loans that are available in NABARD scheme? Or what are the provisions under long term financing. Long-term Refinancing refers to the provision of credit for the purpose of the development of farm and farm-related activities in rural areas. The minimum duration for a long-term loan is 18 months while the maximum duration for which it can be availed is 5 years. NABARD has refinanced a gross amount of Rs. 65, 240 crores in the FT 2017-18, including an amount of around Rs. 15000 crores to Cooperative Banks.

Apart from these, there are other avenues for the provision of credit comprising funds and schemes. Some of them are given below:

• Rural Infrastructure Development Fund ( RIDF)

Recognizing the shortfall in lending to the priority sector, the RBI developed this fund for the provision of credit to improve rural infrastructure. Under this scheme, NABARD had disbursed an amount of Rs. 24993 crores in FY 2017-18.

• Long term Irrigation Fund ( LTIF)

This fund was instituted to provide support to 99 irrigation projects through the consolidation of an amount of Rs. 22000 crores. Two new projects including the Pollavam National Project in AP and the North Now I Reservoir Project in Bihar and Jharkhand were brought under this.

• Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana- Grameen ( PMAY-G)

Under this fund, a total amount of Rs. 9000 crores were consolidated with the aim of building pucca houses with all basic amenities in rural regions by the year 2022.

• NABARD Infrastructure Development Assistance ( NIDA)

This is a special program designed to advance credit to financially sound and stable State-owned institutions and corporations.

• Warehouse Development Fund

As the name suggests, this fund has been created to promote the development, building, and maintenance of a sound warehouse infrastructure in the country. A net amount of Rs. 3778 crores were disbursed by the end of FY 2017-18.

• Food Processing Fund

       This is a commitment undertaken to ensure the building of 11 mega food parks,  3 food processing units, and 1 integrated food park project by 31^st March 2018.

• Direct Lending to Cooperative Banks

       NABARD has given aid to 58 cooperative commercial banks (CCBs’) and 4 state cooperative banks (StCbs’) which are expanded over 14 states in the country for an approved amount of Rs. 4849 crores.

• Credit Facilities to Marketing federations

Under this facility, farm activities and agricultural produce are promoted, which strengthens and encourages marketing federations and cooperatives. As documented since March 2018, Rs. 25436 crores were spent on this cause.

• Credit to Producer Organisations along with Primary Agriculture Societies (PACS)

The organization launched by NABARD – Producer Organisations Development Fund (PODF) was done so to give financial aid to Producer Organisations (Pos’) as well as Primary Agriculture Societies (PACS). This institution was formed to function as a multi-service center.

NABARD subsidy for Poultry farming

NABARD offers credit support in the form of NABARD poultry farm loans and subsidies in poultry farming under different schemes to upgrade the infrastructure, technology, and productivity of the poultry sector. Some of them are the Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme (CISS) and the National Livestock Mission (NLM).

• Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme (CISS) : The CISS scheme offers subsidies to farmers for developing or for upgrading poultry units, which include poultry shed, feed storage, equipment, etc. 
• Low interest loans for farming and entrepreneurship are given to start up or expand poultry farming units and loan is allowed to procure machinery, develop infrastructure and all operational cost
• Under the scheme of National Livestock Mission, this loan facility is extended to build up poultry units, upgrade hatchery, breed quality and increase the productivity of poultry.
• Subsidy on Technology and Modernization : Use of modern technology in poultry farming such as automatic feeding systems, biosecurity facilities, and vaccine equipment is eligible for subsidy.

Before going forward with NABARD poultry loan online apply, one must check eligibility.

Eligibility : These subsidy schemes are open to the farmers, entrepreneurs, cooperative societies, and others engaged in poultry farming subject to certain conditions.

NABARD Schemes for Agriculture Sector

NABARD also offers a range of diversified, general, and targeted schemes for the development of the farm sector in the country.

These include various subsidy schemes as well. Some of them are outlined below:

What are the objectives of NABARD scheme for dairy sector?

Interested entrepreneurs willing to set up small dairy farms and suchlike infrastructure were provided assistance under this scheme. There are many other imperative objectives that this scheme offers to provide assistance for this cause.  Some of these are as stated below;

• Encouraging heifer calf rearing and also conservation of the good breeding stock : NABARD loan for dairy farming promotes conservation of of breeding stock, which promotes better quality of dairy enabling the cattle farmers to increase their earning potential
• Arranging and setting up of modern-day farms to produce organic farm milk. 
• Up gradation of the required technology that is needed to handle milk production to a commercial level scale. 
• Creating self-employment to better the quality of worker’s lives. A big role of NABARD is to ensure that the workers are able to have a better quality of life. Various schemes, NABARD subsidy, 
• Working towards improving the infrastructure for the unorganized sector. Lack of supporting infrastructure is one of the biggest challenges for the unorganized sector. By addressing this issue, the government and NABARD function to eliminate the issues and bring a change in the unorganized sector.

In addition to the above-mentioned objectives, NABARD also offers other schemes as mentioned here;

• New agricultural marketing infrastructure
• Interest subvention scheme
• National livestock mission: NABARD finance such schemes to help the farmers and dairy farmers breed and buy cattle of superior quality which can help with better dairy produce and higher profits
• GSS – Enduring end-use of released subsidies
• Agri-clinic central schemes
• Agribusiness central schemes
• Capital investment subsidy scheme for commercial production units for biological inputs and organic inputs

Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme

This is one of NABARD’s off-the-farm schemes and caters to the betterment of technology required. The credit-linked capital subsidy scheme (CLCSS) was enacted by the government of India in 2000. This was introduced keeping in mind the upgradation of technology needed for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). In addition to this, it was also used to facilitate further improvement of technology that is used for small-scale industries (SSIs) in the sub-sectors of defined products.

NABARD will also be extending large financial aid to the tune of Rs.30,000 crores as an additional emergency working capital under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Program. This amount will be paid over and above the Rs. 90,000 crores via the normal refinance route in the year. A few key takeaways from this scheme are;

• Benefiting around 3000 crore farmers all over the country
• Meeting post-harvest (Rabi) and current (Kharif) requirements in the months of May and June
• Regional cooperative and rural cooperative banks will be the primary source of credit

Future plans and approaches

While much has been done, the road to full reconstruction still needs to be attained by walking extra miles ahead. Thus many programs and policies need to be reinvigorated further. Thus under the recently announced Atmanirbhar Bharat program or Self-Reliant India Scheme, the Government of India, NABARD will be providing hefty financial aid, as mentioned above as an encouraging step towards the agricultural sector.

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Lets summarize it below:

The year of NABARD formation is 1982. It was formed with the aim of promoting the agricultural and rural economy of India by providing finance for infrastructure development facilitation. The prime mission or objective of NABARD is alleviation of farmer’s distress, modern agriculture, and enhancement of rural incomes. NABARD works through the three-stage strategy of financing, development, and supervision for improving agricultural productivity and rural infrastructure in the country which essentially enhances economic development.

NABARD provides many schemes, short-term and long-term refinancing for agricultural activities, NABARD subsidy schemes and rural infrastructure projects. It is available with cooperative banks, Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), and Non-banking Financial Companies (NBFCs). Some of the major initiatives undertaken are the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY-G), and the Food Processing Fund, which aim to enhance the rural housing structure, food parks, and warehouses. NABARD also facilitates small-scale industries, dairy farming, and handicraft development under schemes like Dairy Entrepreneurship Development Scheme, wherein the farm is modernized with technology upgradation. It provides credit-linked capital subsidies and financial support to marketing federations as an encouragement of rural entrepreneurship.

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NABARD News

NABARD Predicts the Credit Potential of Rs 308.2 Crore for MSME Sector in Kallakurichi

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development has secured the Potential Linked Credit Plan for the Kallakurichi district for around ₹4,971.48 crores for the forthcoming year 2023-24. The estimated credit possibility for the priority sectors, including MSMEs, will be about 7% additional to the last year’s predicted credit flow potential. The estimation set for 2023-24 is worth 13% higher than the ongoing year’s ACP target.

NABARD has calculated around credit potential of Rs 308.2 crore precisely for the Government’s priority to the MSME domain. The further credit potential dedicated to other priority sectors is Rs 773.85 crore for the coming year. The Tamil Nadu government intends to make the state attain the top position in industrial development and raise the potential of MSMEs in Kallakurichi.

The PLP counts as the reference for the Annual Credit Plan preparation by Indian Bank. This is the lead bank of Kallakurichi in charge of governing the sector-wise lending priorities. At the meeting, the District Collector, Sravan Kumar Jatavath, disclosed the PLP. Along with agriculture sector investments, government loans to the education, MSMEs, and housing sectors need to be paid out without any undue delay.

Updated Date: 24th November 2022

NABARD projects a 12% increase in Assam’s credit potential for FY23

NABARD on Saturday has projected Assam’s credit potential at Rs. 36,292 crore for 2022-23 fiscal. 

For the priority sector, the preparation for the annual credit plan will be based upon the projected credit potential. 

The State Focus Paper report released by the rural development bank states that of the total projected credit potential in absolute terms: 

• Around 52% i.e., Rs. 18,755 crore, is projected for agriculture and allied activities.
• Around 36% (Rs. 12,952 crore) is estimated for micro, small and medium enterprises. 
• The informal segment has a share of Rs. 1,388 crore. 
• The housing, Educational, and other sectors estimate Rs. 3,197 crore. 

To ensure sustainable rural development, the report focuses on the priority sector. 

Chief General Manager Baiju Kurup of NABARD said that in a seminar recently held, the demand for credit was discussed. 

He also stated that the way to bridge the gap of increasing production is through Farmer Producers’ Organisations.

This way, with better mechanisms and understanding, small and marginal farmers would realize the optimal value of their produce.

Updated Date: 05-01-2022