AHIDF — Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund
Dept of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD) · Central government
A 3% interest subvention on loans up to ₹50 crore funds dairy, meat and animal feed infrastructure.
Open, rolling. Applications are accepted continuously — there is no deadline.
Key facts
- Subsidy amount
- Not specified
- Instrument
- Subsidy
- Deadline
- Rolling
About this scheme
**Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund**
A ₹29,610 crore fund offers a 3% interest subvention on loans for dairy processing and value-addition, meat processing, animal feed plants, and breed improvement laboratories. Each project can access loan coverage of up to ₹50 crore.
The financing structure requires a 90% bank loan with a 10% promoter contribution. Loan tenure extends up to 8 years, including a 2-year moratorium period.
Who can apply
- Eligible business forms
- Not specified
- Udyam registration
- Not specified
- MSME registration
- Not specified
- DPIIT startup recognition
- Not specified
- GST registration
- Not specified
- Where the business may be based
- Not restricted
- Individual entrepreneurs, private companies, MSMEs, FPOs, and cooperatives engaged in dairy processing, meat processing, poultry, aquaculture, or animal feed. - Not applicable to primary milk production at the farm level.
How to apply
- Draft a Detailed Project Report (DPR) that includes project cost, technology, capacity, and financial projections. - Contact a scheduled commercial bank or NABARD for project appraisal and loan sanction. - Register the sanctioned project on the AHIDF portal at dahd.nic.in, with your lending bank facilitating the registration. - After each disbursement, the bank submits a claim for 3% interest subvention to DAHD on your behalf. - DAHD verifies the claim and credits the subvention amount to the lending institution, thereby lowering the interest charged to you. - Submit quarterly progress reports and utilisation certificates, as required by both DAHD and the lending bank.
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for AHIDF?
Individual entrepreneurs, private companies, MSMEs, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and cooperatives investing in dairy processing, meat processing, poultry, aquaculture or animal feed manufacturing are eligible. Primary farm-level milk production does not qualify.
What is the interest subvention available?
Under AHIDF, eligible projects receive a 3% interest subvention on bank loans, lowering the effective borrowing cost. Loans cover up to ₹50 crore per project, with banks financing 90% and promoters contributing 10%.
What is the loan tenure?
Loans under AHIDF carry a maximum tenure of 8 years, which includes a 2-year moratorium when only interest (net of subvention) is due.
Is equity taken by the government?
No. The scheme offers only interest subvention and is non-dilutive; the loan comes from a scheduled commercial bank or NABARD, with the government reimbursing the 3% interest differential directly to the lender.
What projects are eligible for funding?
Dairy processing and value-addition plants, meat and poultry processing units, animal feed manufacturing plants, and breed improvement or veterinary laboratories are eligible. Cold chain, packaging, and quality testing infrastructure connected to these activities also qualifies.
How do I apply?
Applications are submitted through the DAHD online portal at dahd.nic.in, where a Detailed Project Report (DPR) is required. The bank appraises the project and, upon sanction, registers it under AHIDF to activate the subvention.
Sectors
- Agri Food Rural
Details last verified on 3 August 2026. Source: the issuer's published information.