Venture Capital Assistance (VCA) Scheme is a equity investment from Small Farmers' Agri-Business Consortium (SFAC), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare for agribusiness projects (individuals, firms, companies, FPOs) whose term loan has been sanctioned by one of SFAC's 41 partner banks or FIs. It provides Up to ₹50 L, for agribusiness · food-processing · agri-marketing. Applications are currently open.
Key facts
| Amount / benefit | Up to ₹50 L |
|---|---|
| Provider | Small Farmers' Agri-Business Consortium (SFAC), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare |
| Where | Pan-India |
| Stage | Early Revenue, Early Stage, Growth |
| Sector | agribusiness · food-processing · agri-marketing |
| Deadline | Applications open |
What is Venture Capital Assistance?
Venture Capital Assistance (VCA) Scheme — Interest-free loan: lowest of 26% of promoter's equity or Rs 50 lakh (40% for NER, hilly states and FPO-promoted projects) — Agribusiness projects (individuals, firms, companies, FPOs) whose term loan has been sanctioned by one of SFAC's 41 partner banks or FIs. The project must give farmers or producer groups an assured market through backward linkage. At least 50% of the term loan must be disbursed before VCA documents are executed. Promoters who have already availed VCA cannot apply. It is run by Small Farmers' Agri-Business Consortium (SFAC), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
This is equity funding — the investor (often through a fund) takes a stake in your company in exchange for capital, rather than lending or granting money. You give up some ownership; you don’t repay it like a loan. The amount and form of support that actually apply to you depend on the programme’s rules and how your application is assessed — they are not fixed for every applicant.
It is aimed at businesses in agribusiness · food-processing · agri-marketing. Like most government programmes, it has its own eligibility conditions, documentation and application window, and these terms are revised from time to time. Because of that, it is worth confirming the current eligibility, amount and deadline on the official programme page before you invest time in applying.
Who is eligible for Venture Capital Assistance?
Agribusiness projects (individuals, firms, companies, FPOs) whose term loan has been sanctioned by one of SFAC's 41 partner banks or FIs. The project must give farmers or producer groups an assured market through backward linkage. At least 50% of the term loan must be disbursed before VCA documents are executed. Promoters who have already availed VCA cannot apply. Not for: Promoters who availed VCA before; projects without a bank-sanctioned term loan.
How much does Venture Capital Assistance give, and in what form?
Up to ₹50 L.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of support is this?
This is equity funding — the investor (often through a fund) takes a stake in your company in exchange for capital, rather than lending or granting money. You give up some ownership; you don’t repay it like a loan.
Who runs this programme?
Venture Capital Assistance (VCA) Scheme is offered by Small Farmers' Agri-Business Consortium (SFAC), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. Eligibility and approval rest with them; the criteria and amounts are set by the programme.
Is there a deadline to apply?
Programmes like this can be rolling or time-bound. Confirm the current window on the official programme page before you apply.
How do I know if I’m eligible?
Read “Who can apply” above for the programme’s own criteria. If you’d like a quick read on your specific case, our free 2-minute eligibility check maps your stage, sector and revenue to what you can realistically claim.
Related programmes
Browse similar equity programmes. CapEasy handles this under Fundraising advisory.
Source and verification
No official page is linked for this programme yet. Verification date pending. Government programmes change — confirm current eligibility, amounts and deadlines on the official programme page before you apply. CapEasy is a private consultancy and is not affiliated with any government authority.