AHIDF — Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund
Dept of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD) · Central government
3% interest subvention for dairy, meat and animal feed infrastructure, on loans up to ₹50 crore.
Open, rolling. Applications are accepted continuously — there is no deadline.
Key facts
- Subsidy amount
- Not specified
- Instrument
- Subsidy
- Deadline
- Rolling
About this scheme
₹29,610 crore has been allocated to a fund that offers a 3% interest subvention on loans. Eligible activities include dairy processing and value-addition, meat processing, animal feed plants, and breed improvement labs.
A single project can access loan coverage of up to ₹50 crore. The financing structure comprises 90% from a bank, with the promoter contributing the remaining 10%.
Repayment is spread over a loan tenure of up to 8 years, which includes a 2-year moratorium.
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 - Cooperatives
Operating in dairy processing, meat processing, poultry, aquaculture and animal feed.
Primary milk production at farm level is not covered.
How to apply
- Draft a Detailed Project Report (DPR) that sets out the project cost, technology, capacity and financial projections - Submit the project to a scheduled commercial bank or NABARD for appraisal and loan sanction - Once sanctioned, have the project registered on the AHIDF portal at dahd.nic.in via your lending bank - After every disbursement, the bank lodges the claim for 3% interest subvention with DAHD on your behalf - DAHD checks the claim and releases the subvention to the lending institution, which passes on the benefit by lowering the interest you are charged - Keep quarterly progress reports and utilisation certificates ready as DAHD and the lending bank require
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for AHIDF?
Entrepreneurs, private companies, MSMEs, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and cooperatives are eligible provided they invest in dairy processing, meat processing, poultry, aquaculture or animal feed manufacturing; primary farm-level milk production is excluded.
What is the interest subvention available?
The Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) offers a 3% interest subvention on bank loans, which lowers the effective borrowing cost for eligible projects. Loans of up to ₹50 crore per project are covered, with the bank providing 90% of the financing and the promoter contributing the remaining 10%.
What is the loan tenure?
Under the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund, a loan runs for a maximum of 8 years, of which the first 2 years are a moratorium in which the borrower pays only interest after adjusting for subvention.
Is equity taken by the government?
No. The scheme is non-dilutive and offers only interest subvention: the loan comes from a scheduled commercial bank or NABARD, and the government pays the 3% interest differential straight to the lending institution.
What projects are eligible for funding?
Dairy, meat and poultry processing, animal feed manufacturing, breed improvement and veterinary laboratories are all eligible, as is cold chain, packaging and quality testing infrastructure tied to these operations.
How do I apply?
Applications go through the DAHD online portal at dahd.nic.in and must include a Detailed Project Report (DPR). The bank then appraises the project and, once sanctioned, registers it under AHIDF to activate the subvention.
Sectors
- Agri Food Rural
Details last verified on 14 September 2026. Source: the issuer's published information.