New Delhi, Dec 16: The Union government has clarified that there is no proposal at present to launch a “National Agri-Entrepreneurship Scheme” specifically for youth engaged in the animal husbandry, dairy and fisheries sectors.
In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajeev Ranjan Singh, also known as Lallan Singh, said that the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) is instead implementing the National Livestock Mission–Entrepreneurship Development Programme (NLM-EDP) to promote entrepreneurship in allied agricultural activities.
Under the NLM-EDP, the Centre provides a 50 per cent capital subsidy for setting up rural poultry, sheep, goat, pig, camel, horse and donkey farms. The scheme also supports fodder value-addition units, including hay, silage, Total Mixed Ration (TMR), fodder blocks, and facilities for processing, grading and storage of fodder seeds. The subsidy ceiling under various components ranges from ₹3 lakh to ₹50 lakh.
The minister said the scheme is open to individuals, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Joint Liability Groups (JLGs), Farmer Cooperative Organisations (FCOs) and Section 8 companies. The entire process under the scheme has been digitised, enabling end-to-end online submission and monitoring of proposals.
As per official data, 3,843 projects have so far been approved under the NLM-EDP, with a total approved project cost of ₹2,672.45 crore and an approved subsidy amount of ₹1,233.69 crore. The scheme has directly assisted 3,784 individual beneficiaries to date.
State governments act as State Implementing Agencies, responsible for processing, verifying and forwarding proposals submitted by entrepreneurs under the programme. The scheme enables start-ups and rural enterprises to avail benefits, subject to compliance with prescribed guidelines.
