ADB approved Loan to boost Investment in Maharashtra Agribusiness Infrastructure

ADB(Asian Development Bank) on 18 January 2012 signed an agreement with Union government of India to give a loan  of 24.3 million US dollars to boost investment in Maharashtra Agribusiness Infrastructure. The agreement was signed for the second tranche (24.3 million US dollars) under the 170 million US dollars Agribusiness Infrastructure Development Investment Programme which is a multi-tranche financing facility. The loan is to continue modernization efforts in Maharashtra state’s horticultural industries and will expand agricultural value chains and better integrate small-scale farmers into value chains in Nashik and Aurangabad-Amravati regions. 

The programme will build physical and institutional links along horticulture integrated value chains (IVCs), which include farmers, processors, agribusiness entrepreneurs, and service providers, a central goal of the Indian government. This will help farmers, traders and other value chain stakeholders to improve their products and processes, become competitive and adapt to changes in end markets.