(a) whether the Government has launched a scheme `Establishment of Agriclinic
and Agri-business Centres` to create employment opportunities for selfemployed
agriculture graduates;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the number of beneficiaries under the scheme in the country including Gujarat
during each of the last three years, Statewise?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
(DR. CHARAN DAS MAHANT)
(a): Yes, Madam.
(b): The Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation
launched a Central Sector Scheme `Establishment of the Agri-clinics and Agri-
business Centres (ACABCs)` in April, 2002. The Scheme aims to:-
(i) Provide gainful seif-employment opportunities to unemployed agricultural
graduates, agricultural diploma holders, intermediate in agriculture and
biological science graduates with PG in agri-related courses;
(ii) Support agricultural development; and
(iii) Supplement efforts of pubic extension by necessarily providing extension
services to the farmers as per local needs of farmers.
Salient features of the scheme:
(i) The National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE) is the
Implementing Agency for training component of the Scheme. Two months` free
residential training is imparted to the selected eligible candidates on Agri-
Entrepreneurshtp Development followed by one-year handholding support after
completion of training, .through Nodal Training Institutes.
(ii) The Scheme has a provision of credit support (start up loan) upto 20
lakhs for individual projects and t 100 lakhs for a group project.
(iii) There is a provision of credit linked back-ended composite subsidy on
the bank loan availed by trained candidates under the Scheme. The subsidy is
44% in respect of women, SC/ST & all categories of candidates from North-Eastern
and Hill States; and 36% in respect of all other categories
(iv) National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is the
Implementing Agency for disbursement of subsidy and monitoring the credit
support to agri-ciinics and agribusiness centres through the banks.
(c): Since inception of the scheme, a total of 27894 candidates have
been trained and 9949 of them have established agri-ventures up to
February, 2012.
The State-wise details of beneficiaries under the Scheme in the country
including Gujarat (candidates trained and ventures established) is given
at Annexure-I.