Meghalaya Agriculture Response Vehicle Scheme

Meghalaya Agriculture Response Vehicle Scheme

The Meghalaya Agriculture Response Vehicle Scheme, initiated by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare in Meghalaya, aims to bolster agricultural transport by providing financial support for small commercial vehicles. This initiative is designed to enhance mobility for farmers and improve their access to markets, ultimately fostering economic growth within the agricultural sector.

Overview of the Scheme

The Meghalaya Agriculture Response Vehicle Scheme provides a 50% financial subsidy to 200 selected beneficiaries for purchasing commercial vehicles dedicated to agricultural transportation. These vehicles are intended to assist farmers in transporting their products and raw materials efficiently, thereby facilitating better market access and economic upliftment.

Objectives of the Scheme

• Enhancing Profitability: Increase farmers’ profitability by ensuring access to markets through reliable transportation.
• Supporting Farmer Associations: Provide mobility solutions to registered farmers’ associations, thereby boosting aggregation and market reach.
• Reducing Transport Costs: Introduce agriculture response vehicles at each CD Block to lower transportation costs for farmers.
• Encouraging Entrepreneurship: Foster individual entrepreneurship in rural areas by supporting the purchase of commercial vehicles, creating new livelihood opportunities.

Benefits of the Scheme

Participants in this scheme can expect the following advantages:

• Distribution of 200 agricultural transport vehicles across Meghalaya with a financial aid of 50%.
• Vehicles will be equipped with GPS tracking devices.
• Increased availability of vehicles dedicated to agricultural transport services.
• The Project Management Unit will facilitate connections between farmers and agriculture response vehicles as needed.

Financing Plan

Financial assistance for vehicle procurement will be processed through any branch of Meghalaya Rural Bank (MRB), which will sanction 50% of the vehicle’s on-road cost as a term loan.

Interest Rates and Repayment Schedule

The bank will apply the prevailing interest rate. The repayment period is set for five years, with the interest rate fixed for the entire duration of the loan.

Quantum and Nature of Financial Assistance

• Down Payment Support:
  • The total down payment is 50% of the vehicle’s on-road cost.
  • The Agriculture Department will cover 90% of this amount, while the beneficiary is responsible for the remaining 10%.
• EMI Support:
  • To alleviate the operational cost burden during the initial phase, the Agriculture Department will subsidize:
  • 85% of the EMI for the first 6 months
  • 45% of the EMI from 7 to 12 months
  • 35% of the EMI from 13 to 24 months
  • Post 24 months, the beneficiary will bear the full EMI responsibility.
  • The government will provide a total EMI support amounting to 20% of the total EMI due.
  • Support limits will be based on the chosen vehicle model’s value, with adjustments for lower or higher value models.
  • Each vehicle will include a GPS tracking device in its on-road price.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for this scheme, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Individual Applicants:
  • Must be a permanent resident of Meghalaya aged between 18 and 58 years.
  • Should possess a valid commercial driving license before purchasing the vehicle.
  • Must provide valid government-issued ID proof such as Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, or Passport.
  • Should not have any outstanding dues with financial institutions.
• Registered Farmer Associations:
  • Must be legally registered with the Government of Meghalaya, including cooperatives, Farmer Producer Companies (FPC), and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPO).
  • Should provide an Incorporation Certificate or a relevant registration certificate.
  • Must not be in default at any financial institution.

Application Process

Apply Offline

1. Obtain physical application forms from the District Agriculture Offices.
2. Submit the completed form along with required documents to the District Agriculture Office at the Block level.
3. Ensure all details are accurately filled and self-attested documents are included.

Note: Incomplete application forms will be rejected.

Apply Online

1. Download the application forms (Annexure 1 and Annexure 2) from the official website of the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department.
2. Upload the completed form along with the necessary documents online.

For more information, visit myScheme.gov.in