BHARAT campaign

• Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare launched BHARAT Campaign for banks under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF).
• It is a month-long Campaign with a target of Rs 7200 crore.
• It aims to get active involvement and support of members of commercial Banks in the public and private sector, Regional Rural Banks, Small Finance Banks, NBFCs and select cooperative Banks in promoting the Scheme of Agriculture Infrastructure Fund.

ABOUT AGRICULTURE INFRASTRUCTURE FUND

• It is a Central Sector Scheme which was launched in 2020.
• AIF is a financing facility for creation of post-harvest management infrastructure and community farm assets.
• The duration of the scheme is from FY2020 to FY2029 (10 years).
• AIF provides support of 3% interest subvention, credit guarantee support through Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) scheme for loan of up to 2 crore and facility of convergence with other Central and State Government schemes.
• Eligible beneficiaries include farmers, FPOs, PACS, Marketing Cooperative Societies, SHGs etc.