Agri-Clinics And Agri-Business Centres Scheme

Agri-Clinics And Agri-Business Centres Scheme is a central government scheme that helps agriculture graduates start their own agri-business. Registration for the 45 day training programme is open now, and applications are accepted only through the official online portal acabcmis.gov.in. The scheme is being run as per the Revised AC&ABC Programme-2025 guidelines issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

Launched in April 2002, this scheme has trained more than 97,000 candidates and helped set up over 42,000 agri-ventures across the country as per the latest official numbers up to March 2026. Trained candidates get credit support of up to ₹20 lakh for individual projects and up to ₹100 lakh for group projects, along with a back-ended composite subsidy of 36% to 44% on the bank loan.

Agri-Clinics And Agri-Business Centres Scheme - Introduction

Agri-Clinics are expert consultation centres where trained agriculture professionals give farmers advice on soil health, cropping practices, plant protection, crop insurance, livestock care and market prices. Agri-Business Centres are commercial units that offer services like custom hiring of farm equipment, sale of agricultural inputs and post-harvest support. Both options create self-employment for agriculture professionals and give farmers easy access to expert services nearby.

The scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, and NABARD handles the subsidy part. Training is provided by Nodal Training Institutes identified by MANAGE, the National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management, and it is followed by one year of hand holding support. The revised guidelines have fixed the training cost at ₹48,400 per trainee, with 10% extra for North-Eastern and Hill States.

Key Information

Benefits

Agri-Clinics And Agri-Business Centres Scheme offers two paths for professional growth. Agri-Clinics allow trained professionals to provide expert consultation to farmers on soil health testing, plant protection, crop insurance and modern clinical services for livestock. Agri-Business Centres work as commercial units where the owner can manage farm equipment rentals, sell agricultural inputs and offer post-harvest support to improve market links.

The scheme gives full support including training, hand holding and a credit-linked back-ended composite subsidy. The subsidy structure depends on the category of the candidate:

Project cost ceilings for subsidy are fixed as per the revised guidelines:

Trained candidates can also take a PM Mudra Loan under PMMY for their Agri-Clinic or Agri-Business Centre. The official circular on taking a MUDRA loan under PMMY for the ACABC scheme is available on the scheme website. This helps candidates who need extra working capital beyond the bank loan.

Eligibility

Candidates need to meet the following conditions to apply for training under the scheme:

1. Age: Candidate should be between 21 and 60 years of age. The upper age limit for getting credit facility after training is 62 years.
2. Academic Qualification: Degree in Agriculture or allied subjects like Horticulture, Sericulture, Dairy, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Forestry, Food Technology and similar subjects from universities recognised by ICAR or UGC.
3. Diploma Holders: Diploma of 3 years after class 12 with at least 50% marks, or a Post Graduate Diploma, in agriculture and allied subjects from State Agricultural Universities or State Departments of Technical Education.
4. Intermediate Level: Agriculture related courses at intermediate (plus two) level with at least 55% marks are also accepted as per NABARD norms.
5. Biological Science Graduates: Graduates in biological science with post-graduation in agricultural fields can also apply.
6. Course Content: If the degree or diploma is from other agencies, the course should have more than 60% content related to agriculture and allied subjects.
7. Gap of One Year: Candidates must have a minimum gap of one year after completing their educational qualification before applying for training.

Exclusions

Serving persons and retired employees who get pensionary benefits are not eligible for the subsidy under this scheme. They can still undergo the training and set up their own self-financed projects. Subsidy for the same project cannot be taken from any other central or state scheme, and the benefit can be extended up to two times under the approved rates as per the revised guidelines.

Application Process

Applications for training are accepted only through the official online portal at acabcmis.gov.in. A nominal application fee of ₹500 has to be paid while applying, and the amount is refunded to candidates who are not selected.

STEP 1 - Go to the online registration page on the official AC&ABC portal acabcmis.gov.in.

STEP 2 - Fill in all the mandatory fields with correct personal and educational details, upload the required documents in the specified format, and pay the application fee of ₹500 online.

STEP 3 - Submit the application form. Eligible candidates are called for an interview, and selected candidates get admission into the 45 day training programme at a Nodal Training Institute.

STEP 4 - After training, prepare a detailed project report and submit it to a bank for a loan. Application status can be tracked on the status tracker page.

For any help, call the scheme helpline at 9951851556 from Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 5:30 PM, or mail at acabc-manage@manage.gov.in.

Documents

Keep the following documents ready while filling the online application form:

1. Aadhaar card number
2. Valid email ID and mobile number
3. Educational qualification certificates and mark sheets
4. Bank account details
5. Recent passport-sized photograph

Candidates who do not have an Aadhaar card can submit alternative proof of identity like Voter ID, PAN card, Passport, Ration card or bank passbook while Aadhaar enrollment is in progress.

References

Revised AC&ABC Programme-2025 Guidelines (Official Compendium) | NABARD Scheme Brief | List of Nodal Training Institutes | MUDRA Loan under PMMY for ACABC (Official Circular) | AC&ABC Official Scheme Website

FAQ's

How long is the training programme?

The scheme provides 45 days of residential training for anyone interested in setting up an Agri-Clinic or Agri-Business Centre, followed by one year of hand holding support.

Are group projects allowed?

Yes, group projects are allowed if the group has at least five trained people. Group projects can get credit support of up to ₹100 lakh.

Is there a lock-in period for the bank loan?

Yes, the bank loan should not be closed within three years from the date of taking the credit.

What if my project remains incomplete?

If the project is not completed within the required timeframe, the subsidy is lost, and any advance subsidy paid to the bank has to be refunded to NABARD.

Is the application fee refundable?

The application fee of ₹500 is refunded to candidates who are not selected. For selected candidates, the fee is non-refundable.

Can I get a MUDRA loan for my agri-venture?

Yes, trained candidates can take a PM Mudra Loan under PMMY for their Agri-Clinic or Agri-Business Centre as per the official circular.