NABARD Subsidy: New AMI Scheme Guidelines for Agri-Exporters 2024

The Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure (AMI) sub-scheme under ISAM, managed by NABARD, continues to provide vital financial support for the creation of scientific storage and marketing infrastructure. This scheme is specifically beneficial for SME exporters who need to maintain product quality for international markets. The subsidy is structured to assist in the construction of godowns, drying platforms, and specialized grading and standardized laboratories. Recent operational guidelines confirm that capital subsidies ranging from 25% to 33.33% are available depending on the category of the entrepreneur and the location of the project. For agri-exporters, this represents a significant reduction in the cost of long-term capital assets. The scheme emphasizes the creation of decentralized storage to prevent post-harvest losses and to empower farmers and exporters to wait for better price realizations in the global market. ## Key points for SME exporters To avail of the benefit, projects must be linked to a term loan from a commercial or cooperative bank. As per the NABARD AMI Scheme Guidelines, the project must also obtain a unique ID from the portal before the commencement of work. Exporters should note that the subsidy is back-ended, meaning it is kept in a separate account by the bank and adjusted against the last few installments of the loan. This ensures that the infrastructure is fully operational before the total benefit is realized. Reference: As per the NABARD Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure Scheme Portal.