Agroecology Fund
Investments in Agroecology Value Chains Project (IAVCP) is an IFAD funded programme that focuses on identifying viable business opportunities linked to agroecology clusters and value chains, providing investment support for integrated agroecology production systems, and offering grants to MSMEs and agroecology Producer Organization Enterprises (POE) to improve their value addition and market linkages.
It aims to promote integrated sustainable production systems through grants, technical assistance and ecosystem support for MSEs and POEs. The objective is to improve their businesses, enhance their agroecological outcomes, and provide tangible benefits to small producers in the value chain. The following three aspects distinguish the IAVCP from traditional value chain investment programmes and will be used to judge a project’s suitability for investment.
Why Agroecology?
Objective of the Fund
Incubating and strengthening enterprises & producer collectives engaged in agroecology-based businesses through grant provision and technical assistance for integrating them into sustainable food systems
Grant Process
Types of Grant
IAVCP Regular Fund for investment less than 01 Crore. Grant is open for focus states, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram, Assam, Odisha, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.
Eligible Criteria to Participate
- Must be Producer Organization Enterprises (POEs) such as Producer Companies or Cooperatives or any registered entities/ Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs)
- The enterprise must have been in operation for at least 2 years on the date of the application
- Audited financial statements for the past 02 years are available
- Proof of 30% co-funding
Criteria to Participate
- The enterprise must be in business operations for a minimum 02 years
- Proof of 30% co-funding
Stages of Evaluation
Stage 1: Submission of Concept Note and evaluation of Concept Note by the Fund Manager Team
Stage 2: Submission of detailed proposal and business plan from shortlisted applicant
Stage-3: Detailed evaluation and business plan by the Fund Manager Team and shared with the Internal Committee for final selection
Stage-4: Award of Business grant followed by monitoring and evaluation
How to apply
Please visit the links for more details and the online application of Concept note
The Grant for Agroecology Program (GAP)- Challenge Fund is a separate time-bound business grant for investment greater than INR 01 Crore (10 Million) and up to 02 Crore (20 Million). The GAP Fund is announced quarterly at the Pan India Level
Eligible Criteria to Participate
- Must be Producer Organization Enterprises (POEs) such as Producer Companies or Cooperatives or any registered entities/ Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs)
- The enterprise must have been in operation for at least 2 years on the date of the application
- The applicant firm should have a minimum turnover of INR 2 Crore (20 million)
- Audited financial statements for the past 02 years are available
- Proof of 30% co-funding
- Minimum coverage of 1000 small and marginal producers.
Criteria to Participate
- The enterprise must be in operation for a minimum of 02 years.
- The enterprise should have a turn of INR 02 Crore
- Proof of 30% co-funding
Stages of Evaluation
Stage 1: Submission of Concept Note and Evaluation of Concept Note by Fund Manager Team
Stage 2: Submission of detailed proposal and business plan from the shortlisted applicants.
Stage 3: Detailed evaluation of proposal and business plan by Fund Manager
Stage 4: Presentation before the Investment Committee
Stage 5: Award of grant followed by monitoring and evaluation
How to apply
Please visit the links for more details and the online application of Concept note
Frequently Asked Questions
Investments in Agroecology Value Chains Project (IAVCP) is an IFAD funded programme managed by ACCESS Development Services that focuses on identifying viable business opportunities linked to agroecology clusters and value chains, providing investment support for integrated agroecology production systems, and offering grants to Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs)/ Producer Organization Enterprises (POE)/ Startups operating in agroecology value chains to grow their business.
Grants will be given through two routes – (i) The regular grant offered for which concept notes will be accepted on tap can be in the range of INR 20 lacs – 1 Cr. (ii) In addition, innovative grant proposals (for grant value up to INR 2 crore) will be invited through Agroecology Gant Fund Challenge (AGFC) announced once in 6 months.
The amount sanctioned will depend on the assessment of fund required, proposed number of producers impacted/covered, proposed agroecology outcomes, and the business model.
For grants of up to INR 1 crore value, focus geography comprises of 10 states – Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Odisha. The Agroecology Grant Fund Challenge will be open to the entire country.
The organisation/entity needs to be at least two years in operation to be eligible to apply for the grant.
Yes, the organisation can still be eligible provided they have a plan to utilise the available funds. However, the grant funding cannot be used for payment of any existing liabilities.
Yes, there are no exceptions to these.
Eligible Entities are encouraged to apply individually. Consortiums will not be preferred under this grant.
Yes, a start-up/social enterprise can apply provided their project is well aligned to the agroecological principles and it qualifies the eligibility criteria.
The organisation would have to submit the financial statements for the last three years, however if the organisation is only two years old, they can submit the financial statements for the last two years only. In case the audit statements of immediately preceding FY is pending, the organization must submit a provisional Financial Statement for the immediately preceding FY.
The maximum support that can be sought from the IVACP grant is 70 percent of the total proposed project outlay, remaining must come from entity/promoter’s own investment, loan and other grants etc. Higher proportion of funding from other sources will be preferred.
No, there is no application fee for applying for the grant.
This grant is on a rolling basis, so as and when the applicants submit the detailed proposals, the results will be communicated on case-to-case basis depending on the successful proposal after fulfilling all the process.
The duration of the project can vary from 12 to 18 months.
No, once your application is submitted no changes are allowed. It is recommended to review your application multiple times before submission. For any clarification, ACCESS will inform the applicants on case-to-case basis for any further information/ modification after reviewing the grant application.