Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)
- 3% a year interest subvention on loans up to ₹2 crore, for up to 7 years (including up to 2 years' moratorium).
- CGTMSE guarantee fee for loans up to ₹2 crore paid by the Government of India.
- Covers post-harvest infrastructure such as warehouses, cold storage, pack-houses, sorting and grading units and primary processing.
- The ₹2 crore limit applies per location; separate locations can each get the benefit.
MIDH – cold storage subsidy
- Credit-linked, back-ended subsidy of 35% of the project cost norm in general areas (50% in hilly, tribal and North-East areas).
- Applies to cold storage, controlled-atmosphere storage and ripening chambers within the cost norms fixed for each component.
- Routed through the State Horticulture Mission; the bank loan must be sanctioned first.
Plain warehouse – what is realistic
A dry warehouse or godown does not get the cold-chain grants. It can use AIF interest subvention, CGTMSE collateral-free cover and, in some cases, state industrial or logistics incentives. Warehouse registration with WDRA helps farmers get pledge loans against stored produce, which improves occupancy.
Common questions
Does a plain warehouse get the cold-storage subsidy?
No. MIDH and cold-chain grants are for cold storage, ripening chambers and pack-houses. A dry warehouse can still use AIF interest subvention and CGTMSE cover.
Is AIF still open?
AIF runs until 2032-33, but the sanction window has been extended in phases. We check whether new sanctions are open on the date you apply.
Sources: AIF Revised Guidelines, Jan 2023 (DA&FW); MIDH operational guidelines 2025.