SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir has secured three projects under the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) over the past three financial years, according to data tabled by the Government in the Lok Sabha. The Union Territory received one project each in 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25, with a combined project cost of Rs 4.17 crore and sanctioned term loans amounting to Rs 2.60 crore. While modest in scale compared with larger States, officials said these approvals have supported small livestock units and early-stage enterprises in the UT’s dairy and animal husbandry sector, particularly in feed manufacturing, value addition and basic processing.
The Government’s reply shows that Jammu and Kashmir’s first AHIDF project was cleared in 2022-23 with a project cost of Rs 2.94 crore and a term loan of Rs 2 crore. A smaller approval of Rs 0.22 crore followed in 2023-24, and another project worth Rs 1.01 crore was sanctioned in 2024-25, with a loan component of Rs 0.40 crore. Officials said these investments are part of a wider effort to move small and marginal livestock farmers from unorganised markets to organised supply chains, especially through dairy cooperatives, farmer producer organisations and youth-led enterprises.
Beyond Jammu and Kashmir, the national picture presented in Parliament shows sharp expansion under AHIDF since its launch. Over five years, the Centre has approved 428 projects worth Rs 14,786 crore, with an expected employment impact of 46,452 direct jobs and benefits extending to 27 lakh farmers. Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Karnataka and Telangana have emerged as the largest recipients, together accounting for some of the biggest processing, feed, vaccine and value-addition facilities sanctioned under the fund.
The Government said AHIDF has been merged with the Dairy Infrastructure Development Fund to ensure that dairy cooperatives—considered essential for protecting small farmers from exploitation—are fully eligible. The scheme is now entirely digital, from application to loan disbursement, aimed at maintaining transparency and curbing any undue influence by bigger private players. To support startups and young entrepreneurs, AHIDF offers 3 per cent interest subvention, loans of up to 90 per cent of project cost, and a 25 per cent credit guarantee for MSMEs through NABSanrakshan. The Centre said these measures have helped new entrants build breed-multiplication farms, feed units, wool-processing facilities, waste-to-wealth plants and small-scale dairy infrastructure across the country.
The Ministry said that with more States using AHIDF for modern infrastructure, the livestock economy is gradually shifting towards higher productivity, better market access and organised, technology-enabled value chains—changes that are beginning to be felt in smaller regions like Jammu and Kashmir as well.
