Agriculture Response Vehicle Scheme: 50% Financial Aid for Transport Vehicles

The “Meghalaya Agriculture Response Vehicle Scheme” was launched by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Government of Meghalaya. This scheme aims to provide 50% financial aid for purchasing commercial vehicles to 200 selected beneficiaries. The vehicles are intended to support agriculture transport, helping communities involved in agriculture and allied sectors to move their agricultural products and raw materials. The scheme also focuses on the economic upliftment of farmers by offering transportation solutions at competitive costs.

Objectives

• Market Access:
  Increase farmers’ profitability by providing mobility solutions that enhance market access.

• Farmer Aggregation:
  Support registered farmer associations to expand their market reach.

• Cost Reduction:
  Lower transportation costs for farmers by introducing agriculture response vehicles at every CD Block.

• Entrepreneurship:
  Encourage individual entrepreneurship in rural areas by facilitating the purchase of commercial vehicles, thus creating livelihood opportunities.

Benefits

• Vehicle Distribution:
  200 agriculture transport vehicles will be provided across Meghalaya.

• Financial Aid:
  Selected beneficiaries receive 50% financial aid for the purchase of the vehicle.

• Pre-Fitted GPS:
  All vehicles come pre-fitted with GPS devices.

• Enhanced Access:
  Farmers will have greater access to vehicles dedicated to agriculture transportation services.

• Facilitation Support:
  A Project Management Unit will assist in linking farmers with the available agriculture response vehicles as demand arises.

Financing Plan

• Loan Through Meghalaya Rural Bank (MRB):
  Beneficiaries receive a term loan covering 50% of the on-road cost of the vehicle.

• Down Payment Support:

  • Total down payment is 50% of the on-road vehicle cost.

  • The Agriculture Department of Meghalaya covers 90% of this down payment, while the beneficiary pays the remaining 10%.

• EMI Support:
  To ease the financial burden in the early stages:

  • First 6 months: 85% of the EMI is paid by the government.

  • Months 7-12: 45% of the EMI is covered.

  • Months 13-24: 35% of the EMI is supported.

  • After 24 months: The beneficiary is responsible for 100% of the EMI.

  • Overall, the government’s EMI support averages 20% of the total EMI.

  • The maximum support is based on the value of the selected models. If a beneficiary opts for a vehicle of higher value than the predetermined model, the extra cost is borne by the beneficiary.

• Interest Rate and Repayment:
  The bank will charge the prevailing fixed interest rate for the entire loan term, with a repayment period of 5 years.

• Additional Feature:
  The cost of fitting the vehicle with a GPS tracking device is included in the on-road price.

Eligibility

For Individual Applicants

• Must be a permanent resident of Meghalaya.

• Age must be between 18 and 58 years.

• Must possess a valid commercial driving license.

• Must provide a valid government-issued photo ID (e.g., Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, Passport).

• Must not be a defaulter at any financial institution.

For Registered Farmer’s Associations

• Must be a legally registered association involved with agricultural products (e.g., Cooperatives, Farmer Producer Companies (FPC), Farmer Producer Organisations (FPO)).

• Must provide an Incorporation Certificate or Registration Certificate as applicable.

• The association should not be a defaulter at any financial institution.

Application Process

The application process is available both offline and online:

1. Form Collection:

   • Physical forms can be collected from the office of the District Agriculture Offices.

2. Document Submission:

   • For offline applications, the completed form along with the required documents must be submitted to the District Agriculture Office or District Horticulture Officer of the concerned district.

3. Important Notes:

   • Ensure that every detail in the form is carefully filled.

   • Enclose all self-attested required documents.

   • Mark the enclosed documents correctly on the form.

   • Incomplete applications will be rejected.

Documents Required

For Individual Applicants

• Valid government photo ID with address (e.g., Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, Passport)

• PAN card (if applicable)

• Valid commercial driving license

• Copy of the front page of the savings account passbook (if applicable)

• Duly filled form (Annexure-1)

For Registered Farmer’s Associations

• Incorporation Certificate (for cooperatives) or Registration Certificate (for companies)

• GST certificate (if applicable)

• PAN card (if applicable)

• Bank account statement for the last 6 months (if applicable)

• Duly filled form (Annexure-2)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• What is the objective of the scheme?
  To provide a mobility solution that enhances market access, reduces transportation costs, and supports entrepreneurship in agriculture.

• Which department has launched this scheme?
  The Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Government of Meghalaya.

• Who are the beneficiaries under this scheme?
  Individual entrepreneurs and registered farmer associations.

• What percentage of financial aid is provided?
  50% financial aid is provided for the purchase of the vehicle.

• How many agriculture transport vehicles will be distributed?
  A total of 200 vehicles will be distributed across the state.

• Which bank will be the financial agency?
  The financing is managed through any branch of Meghalaya Rural Bank (MRB).

• What is the repayment tenure?
  The repayment period is 5 years.

• How to apply for this scheme?
  Applications can be submitted either offline or online, following the specified procedure at the District Agriculture Office.

Sources and References

• Official Website

• Guidelines