Kohima, Sept 27: Small Farmer’s Agri-Business Consortium (SFAC) is a society under Department of Agriculture & Cooperation with a mandate to catalyse private investment in setting up of agri-business projects for increasing rural income and employment.
The SFAC Scheme for agri-business development provides Venture Capital Assistance to agri-business projects and set up a Project Development Facility (PDF) to assist producer groups/organisations in preparation of economically viable detailed project reports. The Scheme envisages a single-window approach for extending Venture Capital along with bank term loan/working capital to the beneficiary. SFAC will implement the Scheme in close association with commercial banks.
The main objectives of the Scheme are:
a) To facilitate setting up of agri-business ventures in close association with banks.
b) To catalyse private investment in setting up of agri-business projects and thereby assured market to producers for increasing rural employment.
c) To strengthen backward linkages of agri-business projects with producers.
d) To assist farmers, producer groups and Agriculture graduates to enhance their participation in value chain through Project Development Facility.
e) To arrange training and visits etc, of agripreneurs setting up identified agri-business projects.
Assistance under the scheme will be available to individuals, farmers, producer groups, partnership/proprietary firms, self-help groups, companies, agripreneurs units in agri-export zones and agriculture graduates individually or in groups. For professional management and accountability, the groups have to preferably form into companies or producer companies under the relevant Act. Detailed guidelines are available at www.sfacindia.com
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