Meghalaya Agriculture Response Vehicle Scheme

DETAILS The scheme “Meghalaya Agriculture Response Vehicle Scheme” was launched by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Government of Meghalaya, . It aims to employ, engage, and empower the youth and rural communities by promoting entrepreneurship in agriculture logistics, addressing critical gaps in farm-to-market connectivity. The scheme provides easy access to credit through onboarding of multiple partner banks, coupled with substantialgovernment support in the form of upfront capital subsidy and EMI co-payment. By enabling entrepreneurs to procure small commercial vehicles, pickups, trucks, and refrigerated carriers, it seeks to improve transportation efficiency, reduce post-harvest losses, and enhance market access for farmers, especially in remote areas. Implemented by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, the scheme integrates with 1917iTeams for generating transport demand, GPS-enabled tracking, and providing training and capacity building—ensuring beneficiaries can operate profitably while strengthening the agricultural value chain in Meghalaya. Objectives of the scheme Economic growth of the state: With 77% of the population involved with agriculture and allied sectors in rural areas, the PRIME ARVS is envisaged to accelerate and sustain economic development of the state through entrepreneurship development, job creation in the rural community. Encourage entrepreneurship among rural youth: The scheme is intended to encourage entrepreneurship among the rural youth by providing them easy credit access and financial grant to buy commercial vehicles. These vehicles can be used by the entrepreneurs to earn their income by providing transportation solution to local farmers, traders, and buyers. Logistics solution to farm produce: To provide a transportation solution to evacuate farms produce to intended destinations such as markets, processing facilities or aggregation centres. Similarly, the vehicles can also transport various farming inputs from the market for timely and successful agricultural operations. Lower transportation cost: Introducing more numbers of commercial goods carriers will potentially help reduce logistics cost for the marginal farmers by fostering competition among the logistics providers. Various farmers groups who will be benefitted with the vehicles under the scheme will significantly reduce the transportation cost of their own grown/ aggregated farm products. Market accessibility to farmers from remote area: The majority of the vehicles are intended for entrepreneurs residing in remote areas so that farmers living in their proximity from nearby villages and clusters can be benefitted. The farmers residing in these areas can quickly avail their transportation services to sell their farm produce and buy back their essentials from the markets. Increase farmer’s profitability: Timely evacuation of farm produce will have a significant impact on farmer’s profitability by minimizing spoilage of perishable products; reducing additional storage costs such as refrigeration, storage facilities; increasing market accessibility; maintaining cash flow through quicker sales and lastly by enhancing customer satisfaction by building trust and long-term relationship with the buyers. Financial grant and easy credit to the entrepreneurs to buy goods carriers 300 Prime Agriculture Response Vehicles (Prime-ARVs) to be distributed across Meghalaya with 50% financial aid on the total cost of the vehicle including the interest charged by the bank to finance the vehicle. Demand creation through 1917iTeams Vehicles will be registered with 1917iTeams who will provide transportation demand calls from customers to the vehicle owners. Vehicles will be pre-fitted with GPS device ensuring trackability of the vehicle by 1917iTeams. The live location of the vehicle will help in immediately connecting the farmers/ aggregators/ buyers to their nearest available vehicle. BENEFITS 50% of project cost supported (5% by applicant, 45% by Government of Meghalaya) 5% EMI co-payment support for 12 months Credit linkage through partnered banks (MRB, MCAB, SBI, SCUB) Additional 3% annual interest subvention on reefer trucks with Aadhaar linkage Pre-fitted GPS device with 5-year warranty Branding cost of vehicle borne by the Government Capacity building and training programs by Department,1917iTeams Market linkage through 1917iTeams with live vehicle tracking Eligibility for various vehicle types, including reefer trucks for perishable goods transportation ELIGIBILITY Individuals The applicant must be between 18 and 58 years of age. The applicant must have a valid commercial driving license. The applicant must be a permanent resident of Meghalaya. The applicant must be involved in the agriculture sector for at least two years. A certification letter from the Block Development Officer (BDO) is required as proof of agricultural involvement. The applicant should not be a loan defaulter with any bank. Registered Entities The applicant must be a registered entity such as a Cooperative, Farmer Producer Company (FPC), or Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) under the Government of Meghalaya. The entity must be engaged in the agriculture sector for at least two years. A certification letter from the Block Development Officer (BDO) must be provided as proof of agricultural involvement. The entity should not have availed benefits under the first phase of the PRIME Agriculture Response Vehicle Scheme. The applicant must submit an Incorporation Certificate or Registration Certificate, as applicable. At least two members of the entity must have a training certificate in the relevant sector from a recognized institution (preferably a government institute). The entity should not be a loan defaulter with any bank. Unregistered Entities Any unregistered entity such as village organizations, self-help groups, producer groups, or other traditional institutions based in Meghalaya can apply. The entity must be involved in the agriculture sector for at least two years. A certification letter from the Block Development Officer (BDO) must be provided as proof. The entity should not be a defaulter with any financial institution. The entity should not have availed benefits under the first phase of the PRIME Agriculture Response Vehicle Scheme.  Exclusions Individuals Applications shall not be ordinarily considered for the following A) Following individuals (currently employed as full-fledged or contractual, or retired and drawing pension) and their Immediate family members which includes spouse, parents, and children up to the age of 30 i. State and Central Government employees ii. Employees of public sector undertakings, subsidiaries of public sector undertakings and divisions of public sector undertakings etc. iii. Any individual whose job is concerned with politics such MLAs, MLCs, MPs etc. or seeking to hold a similar position in government iv. Registered class-1 contractors v. Consultants who are currently engaged with state or central government B) Only one member from a family is eligible for the scheme. Registered Entities Applications shall not be ordinarily considered for the following A) State and Central Government employees B) Employees of public sector undertakings, subsidiaries of public sector undertakings and divisions of public sector undertakings etc. C) Any individual whose job is concerned with politics such MLAs, MLCs, MPs etc. or seeking to hold a similar position in government D) Registered class-1 contractors E) Pressure groups and organizations that are primarily political in nature F) Consultants who are currently engaged with state or central government Unregistered Entities Applications shall not be ordinarily considered for the following A) State and Central Government employees B) Employees of public sector undertakings, subsidiaries of public sector undertakings and divisions of public sector undertakings etc. C) Any individual whose job is concerned with politics such MLAs, MLCs, MPs etc. or seeking to hold a similar position in government D) Registered class-1 contractors E) Pressure groups and organizations that are primarily political in nature F) Consultants who are currently engaged with state or central government