Sarkari Yojana
Agriculture And Processed Foods Export Promotion Scheme Of APEDA For The 15th Finance Commission Cycle (2021-22 To 2025-26)
About Agriculture And Processed Foods Export Promotion Scheme Of APEDA For The 15th Finance Commission Cycle (2021-22 To 2025-26)
The Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) is APEDA’s export-promotion initiative. APEDA operates under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry as the body tasked with promoting agricultural and processed food product exports. This particular scheme runs across the 2021-22 to 2025-26 period and is built to help exporters push agri-products into overseas markets. It does this by:
- Recognising the range of hurdles agri-exporters face.
- Responding to the need for support so exporters can clear those hurdles and help APEDA meet its own objectives.
Financial assistance flows into three broad areas:
- Development of Export Infrastructure
- Infrastructure, Quality Development, and
- Market Development
Details for each component — name, launch date, ministry/department, scope, objectives, key features, target beneficiaries, and benefits — are set out below.
Development of Export Infrastructure: APEDA recognises that infrastructure underpins the growth of agro-industries and agricultural exports across the value chain. This component spans both fresh produce and processed foods, aiming to curb spoilage losses and ensure quality output by funding post-harvest handling facilities, including:
- Packhouse facilities with packing/grading lines
- Pre-cooling units, cold storage, and refrigerated transport
- Cable systems for handling crops such as bananas
- Common infrastructure facilities
- Pre-shipment treatment facilities — irradiation, Vapour Heat Treatment (VHT), Hot Water Dip Treatment (HWDT) — to meet importing countries’ phyto-sanitary requirements
- Processing-facility infrastructure (processed food sector) to close gaps, potentially including X-ray machines, screening equipment, sortex machines, filth/metal detectors, sensors, vibrators, or any new technology needed for food safety and quality compliance.
Quality Development: Competing in international trade means meeting each destination country’s food safety standards, and several importing nations — especially developed ones — enforce very strict Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs). To help exporters meet these, assistance runs up to a ceiling of ₹600 lakh, released against a bank guarantee.
Quality Development Scheme: Covers implementing and certifying quality and food-safety management systems, standardising and aligning with global norms, and funding hand-held devices that capture farm-level location data for traceability systems.
Beneficiaries: Eligible applicants include APEDA-registered exporters, Certification Bodies accredited under the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP), state agencies, trade bodies, chambers of commerce, government agencies, FPOs, SHGs, FPCs, cooperatives, individual farmers, and listed laboratories.
Benefits: Assistance covers up to 50% of total cost, capped at ₹5 lakh to ₹20 lakh per certification, and also applies to certification renewals. The ₹20 lakh cap applies, for instance, to procuring hand-held devices — including software — for capturing farm-level location data for traceability, covering any electronic management system, software, blockchain, AI, or other high-precision technology involved.
Market Development:
Beneficiaries: APEDA-registered exporters, trade delegations, GI-product promoters, central/state government agencies, trade chambers, and Indian missions abroad, among others.
Benefits: APEDA decides and implements the specific benefits and their components. For example, in New Market/Product Development through feasibility studies, two criteria apply:
1. Assistance up to 50% of total cost, capped at ₹10 lakh per study per beneficiary. 1. Assistance up to 75% of total cost, capped at ₹10 lakh per study per beneficiary, when the study is run by Trade Associations, Indian missions abroad, Central/State government agencies, or exporters from North-Eastern states, difficult areas (Himalayan and landlocked states), Island UTs, or SC/ST and women beneficiaries. 1. Activities initiated by APEDA itself are funded 100%.
For assistance covering trial shipments involving multimodal transport, support runs up to 50% of total cost, capped at ₹10 lakh. For registering a brand/IPR outside India:
1. Assistance up to 50% of total cost, capped at ₹20 lakh per beneficiary. 1. 100% funding where APEDA itself is the applicant.
Scheme Overview
Central Government
Ministry Of Commerce And Industry
Agricultural And Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)
University / Institution
26 Oct 2021
Scheme Details
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for Agriculture And Processed Foods Export Promotion Scheme Of APEDA For The 15th Finance Commission Cycle (2021-22 To 2025-26), applicants must satisfy the following conditions:
APEDA-registered exporters can apply for assistance under components…
APEDA-registered exporters can apply for assistance under components 1(a)-(e); Central and state government institutions and public sector enterprises can apply under component 1(f), following APEDA's Operational Guidelines.
Assistance covers all products on APEDA's schedule
Assistance covers all products on APEDA's schedule.
The date an online application is submitted to…
The date an online application is submitted to APEDA counts as the date of receipt for granting In-Principle Approval (IPA). Expenses incurred before that submission date are not eligible for assistance, and expenses incurred after submission but before IPA is issued don't automatically qualify either — APEDA decides these case by case.
Exporters from North-Eastern states, difficult areas (Himalayan and…
Exporters from North-Eastern states, difficult areas (Himalayan and landlocked states), Island UTs, SC/ST entrepreneurs, and women beneficiaries can get assistance up to 75% for all activities, though the overall financial ceilings stay the same.
Exporters are deemed to fall under the SC/ST…
Exporters are deemed to fall under the SC/ST category when:
In a proprietary concern, the proprietor is SC/ST
In a proprietary concern, the proprietor is SC/ST.
In a partnership firm, SC/ST partners hold at…
In a partnership firm, SC/ST partners hold at least 51% of the shares.*
In private limited companies, LLPs, or Farmer Producer…
In private limited companies, LLPs, or Farmer Producer Companies, SC/ST directors/promoters hold at least 51% of the shares.* (*This 51% holding must have been in place for the year before the financial assistance application and must stay at least 51% for at least two years after the assistance is reimbursed. The applicant must submit an undertaking to this effect.)
Exporters are deemed to fall under the Women…
Exporters are deemed to fall under the Women Entrepreneur category when:
The concern has existed for at least one…
The concern has existed for at least one year.
In a proprietary concern, the proprietor is a…
In a proprietary concern, the proprietor is a woman.
In partnership firms, FPOs, FPCs, LLPs, or private…
In partnership firms, FPOs, FPCs, LLPs, or private limited companies, every partner/director/promoter is a woman.
For organic products, the unit must have scope…
For organic products, the unit must have scope for NPOP-compliant processing.
APEDA charges a processing fee on the disbursed…
APEDA charges a processing fee on the disbursed amount, currently 5% plus applicable GST, as approved by the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry — this fee is deducted when funds are released to the applicant.
Assistance under APEDA's Financial Assistance Scheme is available…
Assistance under APEDA's Financial Assistance Scheme is available to registered exporters and organisations such as Central/State agencies and FPOs for APEDA Scheduled Products.
Applications must include the required self-certified documents and…
Applications must include the required self-certified documents and be submitted physically within 30 days of the online application, or the application is cancelled.
For new equipment purchases, quotations, proforma invoices, or…
For new equipment purchases, quotations, proforma invoices, or bills must come from at least three Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) or their authorised distributors/dealers; the applicant may place the order with any of the three, but APEDA computes its assistance based on the lowest quote.
For feasibility studies, quotations must come from reputed…
For feasibility studies, quotations must come from reputed consulting firms with at least 5 years of experience in the relevant field.
Quotations must clearly show the supplier's address, GSTN,…
Quotations must clearly show the supplier's address, GSTN, TIN, and PAN, along with a detailed product description, validity date, and item-wise and total costs; infrastructure/lab equipment purchases also need technical brochures/literature clearly describing the equipment's use.
Where civil work is involved, APEDA's assistance is…
Where civil work is involved, APEDA's assistance is restricted to Technical Civil Work required for the project, and the cost estimate — showing Bill of Quantity, rate per unit, and total amount — must be certified by a Chartered Engineer or Civil Architect.
Grants apply only to plant, machinery, and technical…
Grants apply only to plant, machinery, and technical civil work created after the online application is submitted; the technical civil work component of assistance is capped at 25% of the application's total eligible assistance. Expenses incurred after submission but before IPA issuance don't automatically qualify and are decided case by case.
The training programme's schedule/calendar or prospectus (per Annexure…
The training programme's schedule/calendar or prospectus (per Annexure 8) must accompany the application.
Exporters must file quarterly export performance data for…
Exporters must file quarterly export performance data for the assisted unit on the APEDA website, even when exports are nil.
In-Principle Approval (IPA) from APEDA is mandatory for…
In-Principle Approval (IPA) from APEDA is mandatory for every component except lab testing charges under sub-component 5.
Amendments to an issued IPA may be considered…
Amendments to an issued IPA may be considered at the applicant's request, provided the IPA is still valid.
APEDA may consider IPA extension requests case by…
APEDA may consider IPA extension requests case by case, on merit.
APEDA reserves the right to have projects appraised…
APEDA reserves the right to have projects appraised by an outside agency; a project found unviable will not be considered, and In-Principle Approval covers only eligible items and activities — spending on ineligible items isn't considered.
APEDA can step in if agency charges don't…
APEDA can step in if agency charges don't match the services rendered to exporters.
APEDA's decision on claim admissibility is final, and…
APEDA's decision on claim admissibility is final, and merely filing an application creates no right to financial assistance.
Exporters are responsible for updating any change in…
Exporters are responsible for updating any change in company ownership/management in their APEDA Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC).
Reimbursement is back-ended — released only after the…
Reimbursement is back-ended — released only after the applicant completes the project, submits the claim per the IPA letter's terms, and APEDA carries out physical verification.
Applicants must file complete final claim documents well…
Applicants must file complete final claim documents well before the IPA letter's original or extended validity expires.
Applicants with more than one manufacturing unit at…
Applicants with more than one manufacturing unit at different locations may get assistance for each unit separately, provided every unit is first registered under the IEC and APEDA's RCMC.
APEDA's budget comes from the Department of Commerce…
APEDA's budget comes from the Department of Commerce and can vary year to year; disbursement depends on actual government allocation and fund availability with APEDA.
Assistance is subject to the scheme continuing —…
Assistance is subject to the scheme continuing — applicants have no claim to carry an application forward beyond the 2021-26 plan period.
Applicants must comply with registration/licensing requirements under the…
Applicants must comply with registration/licensing requirements under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and any other applicable regulators.
Beneficiaries who received assistance for an integrated pack-house,…
Beneficiaries who received assistance for an integrated pack-house, reefer van, cable car, or facility upgrade may not sell the unit within five years of receiving the funds.
Exporters must declare that they haven't received financial…
Exporters must declare that they haven't received financial assistance from any other state/central agency; if an application is also pending with another agency, that must be disclosed online.
APEDA reserves the right to inspect the applicant's…
APEDA reserves the right to inspect the applicant's unit/site before the Technical Committee reviews the case.
Applications will be rejected outright if incomplete, if…
Applications will be rejected outright if incomplete, if the pre-inspection report is unsatisfactory, or if guidelines aren't followed.
Any dispute under the FAS is governed by…
Any dispute under the FAS is governed by Indian law and falls under New Delhi's court jurisdiction. Both parties should first try to resolve disputes through reconciliation; if a dispute remains unresolved, it goes to the Chairman, APEDA, whose decision is final.
Benefits Provided
Agriculture And Processed Foods Export Promotion Scheme Of APEDA For The 15th Finance Commission Cycle (2021-22 To 2025-26) provides the following benefits to eligible applicants:
Development of Export Infrastructure — Assistance for Establishing Processing and Supply Chain Infrastructure: Benefits:
Assistance up to 40% of cost, capped at…
Assistance up to 40% of cost, capped at ₹200 lakh.
Assistance up to 90% of the approved cost…
Assistance up to 90% of the approved cost for support under 1(f), per APEDA's Operational Guidelines.
Documents Required
Applicants should keep the following documents ready before starting the application:
Every document submitted must be duly signed by…
Every document submitted must be duly signed by the Competent Authority/authorised signatory. Where original documents are in a regional language, attach a self-certified English/Hindi translation.
1
1. Documents such as the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and Chartered Engineer Certificate, in the Annexure-I format. A detailed appraisal note specific to the scheme from the lending Bank/Financial Institution, where applicable. The applicant's certificate of incorporation/registration, Memorandum and Articles of Association (for companies), or bye-laws. Annual reports and audited financial statements for the last two years. Self-attested English/Hindi land documents proving title in the applicant's name, or a land lease registered with the competent authority for at least 15 remaining years. Change in Land Use (CLU) permission for the main facility land from the competent authority. The main facility land must be freehold or under an equitable mortgage free of encumbrances and in the applicant's possession before assistance is considered; if a land dispute changes the land's status during or after the project, APEDA will recover the entire assistance with interest (per GFR) and a penalty, without needing to give a reason. Three quotations from suppliers of plant, machinery, and equipment for the project, except for imported/proprietary items. Copies of the necessary permissions from Central, State, and other statutory bodies for setting up the facility/project. A copy of the bank/FI's term loan sanction for the project, if applicable. A drawing/layout diagram of the project, approved by a Chartered Engineer. Where the applicant is availing a bank/FI loan, a detailed appraisal note specific to the proposal from that bank/FI — a DPR or Techno-Economic Viability Report merely stamped or endorsed by the bank/FI, without a proper appraisal note, won't count and such proposals won't be considered. Where the applicant isn't availing any loan, a detailed appraisal note justifying the project's feasibility, endorsed by the applicant organisation's Competent Authority. Applicants who have received or are seeking a grant from any other agency must inform APEDA at the DPR submission stage; if a grant has already been received for the same component(s) from another government agency, APEDA assistance for those same component(s) is not available.
2021-10-26
How to Apply
Online Application
Applicants can apply for Agriculture And Processed Foods Export Promotion Scheme Of APEDA For The 15th Finance Commission Cycle (2021-22 To 2025-26) through the online application process outlined below.
For Govt., PSU, and Others
For Govt., PSU, and Others: Apply through the online portal at the link below. https://itrack.apeda.gov.in/onlineregistration/fasonlinereg.aspx
For Exporters
For Exporters: Submit the application online using this link. https://itrack.apeda.gov.in/default.aspx?UType=E
Exclusions / Who Is Not Eligible
1. The members who are not registered with APEDA are not eligible to apply for assistance under the scheme.
Official Application & Website
Verify the latest eligibility, dates and instructions before applying.