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Agri Clinic and Agribusiness Centres – ACABC Scheme

▶ The Agri Clinic and Agribusiness Centres Scheme ACABC scheme is being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India, with NABARD acting as a subsidy channelizing agency.

▶ The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India in association with the NABARD, launched the scheme of Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Centres (ACABC) on 9th April 2002. The Central government of India sponsors this scheme with the vision of taking better farming methods to each farmer across the country.

The objectives of the Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Centres scheme are

🔰 To supplement efforts of public extension by providing extension and other services to farmers either on a payment basis or free of cost as per business model of agri-preneur, local needs, and affordability of the target group of farmers

🔰 Support agricultural development

🔰 To create gainful self-employment opportunities for unemployed agricultural graduates, agricultural diploma holders, and intermediate in agriculture and biological science graduates with PG in agri-related courses.

Agri-Clinics

🔰 Agri-Clinics are envisaged to provide expert advice and services to farmers on various aspects to enhance the productivity of crops/animals and increase farmers’ incomes. Agri-Clinics provide support in the following areas:

• Soil health
• Cropping practices
• Plant protection
• Crop insurance Clinical services for animals, feed, and fodder management
• Post-harvest technology
• Clinical services for animals, feed, and fodder management
• Prices of various crops in the market, etc

Agri-Business Centres

🔰 Agri-Business Centres are commercial units of agri-ventures established by trained agriculture professionals. These ventures may include maintenance and custom hiring of farm equipment, selling inputs and other services in agriculture and allied areas, including post-harvest management and market linkages for income generation and entrepreneurship development.

🔰 The scheme covers full financial support for training and handholding, provision of loans, and credit-linked back-end composite subsidy

List of Beneficiaries

🔰 Graduates in agriculture and allied subjects from State Agriculture Universities (SAUs)/Central Agricultural Universities / Universities recognized by ICAR/UGC. Degrees in Agriculture and allied subjects offered by other agencies are also considered subject to the approval of the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, GoI, on the recommendation of the State Government

🔰 Diploma (with at least 50% marks)/Post Graduate Diploma holders in Agriculture and allied subjects from State Agricultural Universities, State Agriculture and Allied Departments, and the State Department of Technical Education.

🔰 Diploma in Agriculture and allied subjects offered by other agencies are also considered subject to the approval of the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers’ Welfare, GoIonrecommendationof the State Government

🔰 Biological Science Graduates with Post Graduation in Agriculture & allied subjects

🔰 Degree courses recognized by UGC having morethan60percentof the course content in Agricultureandalliedsubjects

🔰 Diploma/Post Graduate Diploma courses with more than 60 percent of course content in Agriculture and allied subjects, after B.Sc. in Biological Sciences, from recognized colleges and universities.

🔰 Agriculture-related courses at Intermediate (i.e. plus two) level, with at least 55% marks.