🏗️ IBPS AFO Interview — Agri Schemes & Infrastructure
IBPS AFO interview questions on AIF (₹1 lakh crore corpus), e-NAM (1,656 mandis), RKVY-RAFTAAR, MIDH, PMMSY, and MSP framework asked by bank panels.
Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)
₹1 lakh crore medium-to-long-term debt financing facility for post-harvest management infrastructure.
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total corpus | ₹1 lakh crore |
| Interest subvention | 3% per annum |
| Credit guarantee | CGTMSE cover (up to ₹2 crore per project) |
| Repayment period | Up to 7 years |
| Eligible entities | Farmers, FPOs, PACS, Agri-entrepreneurs, Startups, APMCs, State governments |
| Funded infrastructure | Cold storage, warehouses, primary processing centres, sorting/grading units, assaying labs, custom hiring centres |
AFO relevance: AIF-backed projects are bankable — the 3% subvention + credit guarantee makes them attractive term loan candidates. AFO should actively identify eligible projects in the area.
e-NAM — Updated Data
Electronic National Agriculture Market — "One Nation One Market"
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Launched | 2016 |
| Implementing body | SFAC (Small Farmers' Agribusiness Consortium) |
| Integrated mandis | 1,656 mandis across 23 states (updated 2025-26) |
| Tagline | One Nation One Market |
| Key benefit | Online price discovery, direct payment to farmer's bank account |
How it works:
- Farmer brings produce to integrated APMC mandi
- Buyers across the country bid online
- Highest bid wins; payment goes directly to farmer's bank account
- Single licence valid across all integrated mandis
What it solves: Reduces middlemen, improves price transparency, expands market access.
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Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)
₹1 lakh crore medium-to-long-term debt financing facility for post-harvest management infrastructure.
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total corpus | ₹1 lakh crore |
| Interest subvention | 3% per annum |
| Credit guarantee | CGTMSE cover (up to ₹2 crore per project) |
| Repayment period | Up to 7 years |
| Eligible entities | Farmers, FPOs, PACS, Agri-entrepreneurs, Startups, APMCs, State governments |
| Funded infrastructure | Cold storage, warehouses, primary processing centres, sorting/grading units, assaying labs, custom hiring centres |
AFO relevance: AIF-backed projects are bankable — the 3% subvention + credit guarantee makes them attractive term loan candidates. AFO should actively identify eligible projects in the area.
e-NAM — Updated Data
Electronic National Agriculture Market — "One Nation One Market"
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Launched | 2016 |
| Implementing body | SFAC (Small Farmers' Agribusiness Consortium) |
| Integrated mandis | 1,656 mandis across 23 states (updated 2025-26) |
| Tagline | One Nation One Market |
| Key benefit | Online price discovery, direct payment to farmer's bank account |
How it works:
- Farmer brings produce to integrated APMC mandi
- Buyers across the country bid online
- Highest bid wins; payment goes directly to farmer's bank account
- Single licence valid across all integrated mandis
What it solves: Reduces middlemen, improves price transparency, expands market access.
AFO note: For panels asking about "digital agriculture," e-NAM is the primary market-linkage example.
A-CABC Scheme — Training Agri-Graduates
Agriculture Cluster and Business Cluster (A-CABC) — relatively new, high-specificity question area.
- Provides training and subsidies for agriculture graduates to establish agri-entrepreneurship ventures
- Subsidy range: 36% to 44% depending on category and location
- Focuses on post-harvest value addition, agri-processing, input supply chains
- Targeted at young agriculture graduates entering the agri-business space
Why it matters for AFO: A-CABC graduates may approach banks for startup loans. AFO should recognise the scheme and understand subsidy linkage when assessing creditworthiness.
RKVY — Flexibility-Based Agriculture Funding
Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana
Current form: RKVY-RAFTAAR (Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied sector Rejuvenation)
- Centrally Sponsored Scheme — states have flexibility in allocating funds
- Added focus: Agri-entrepreneurship and startups (Agri Hackathon, AGRI-UDAAN)
- Funding ratio: 60:40 Centre:State (90:10 for NE and hill states)
MIDH — Horticulture Development
Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture
Funds production, post-harvest management, and processing for:
- Fruits, vegetables, mushroom, spices, flowers, aromatic plants
- Coconut, cashew, cocoa
Key funding: Nurseries, cold chains, pack houses, CA (Controlled Atmosphere) stores, processing units, market infrastructure.
PMMSY — Fisheries Development
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Investment | ₹20,050 crore (2020-2025) |
| Target fish production | 22 MMT by 2024-25 |
| Employment target | 55 lakh jobs |
| Beneficiaries | Fishers, fish farmers, SHGs, cooperatives, FPOs/FFPOs |
MSP Framework
Minimum Support Price is fixed by CCEA (Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs) on the recommendations of CACP (Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices).
Key MSPs (2024-25):
| Crop | MSP |
|---|---|
| Wheat | ₹2,275 per quintal |
| Paddy (Common) | ₹2,300 per quintal |
| Arhar (Tur) | ₹7,550 per quintal |
| Maize | ₹2,225 per quintal |
| Soybean | ₹4,892 per quintal |
AFO note: Farmers sometimes use MSP as a benchmark when assessing whether their crop loan + input cost will be profitable. AFO should understand this calculation.
Natural Farming Initiative (Budget 2024-25)
- Target: 1 crore farmers practising natural farming in 2 years
- Focus on input-cost reduction, soil health improvement
- Financial support through RKVY and state schemes
- Supported by 10,000 need-based Bio-Input Resource Centres
Key Organisations
| Organisation | Role |
|---|---|
| SFAC | Implements e-NAM; promotes FPOs |
| NAFED | Procurement for MSP operations; price stabilisation |
| FCI (Food Corporation of India) | Wheat and rice procurement, buffer stock management |
| CACP | Recommends MSP to government |
| NABARD | Refinance, rural infrastructure, SHG linkage |
| NITI Aayog | Policy think-tank; no operational role in agriculture |
Budget 2026-27 Key Agriculture Highlights
- Department of Agriculture allocation: ₹1,30,561.38 crore (exact figure — use this, not "₹1.30 lakh crore")
- Bharat VISTAAR announced (see Digital Agriculture lesson)
- Natural Farming continuation with enhanced funding
- PM-KISAN budget maintained; 22nd instalment released March 2026
- AIF expanded scope
For the full exam pattern and syllabus coverage, see the IBPS AFO exam pattern and syllabus. For official scheme details, visit IBPS official site.
Practise these topics in IBPS AFO mock tests and review previous year question analysis to identify high-frequency areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What questions are asked about government agriculture schemes in the IBPS AFO interview? Panels frequently ask candidates to explain the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), its corpus of ₹1 lakh crore, the 3% interest subvention, and CGTMSE cover up to ₹2 crore. Candidates should be ready to describe which entities are eligible and how AIF-funded projects are bankable term loans.
Q: How many mandis are integrated under e-NAM and who implements it? As of 2025-26, e-NAM integrates 1,656 mandis across 23 states. It is implemented by SFAC (Small Farmers' Agribusiness Consortium) under the "One Nation One Market" framework. The key benefit is online price discovery with payment directly to the farmer's bank account.
Q: What is the funding ratio for RKVY-RAFTAAR and what does it focus on? RKVY-RAFTAAR (Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana) follows a 60:40 Centre-to-State funding ratio (90:10 for North-East and hill states). Its current focus includes agri-entrepreneurship, startups, and the AGRI-UDAAN and Agri Hackathon programmes in addition to traditional farm development.
Q: What is the MSP for paddy and wheat in 2024-25, and who recommends it? MSP for paddy (Common) in 2024-25 is ₹2,300 per quintal and for wheat is ₹2,275 per quintal. MSP is recommended by CACP (Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices) and approved by CCEA (Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs). NAFED and FCI are the primary procurement agencies.