Overview

The Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) is a dedicated financing facility set up by the Government of India in 2018-19 under the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, with a total corpus of ₹7,522.48 crore. It provides concessional credit to State Governments/UTs, cooperatives, and private entrepreneurs to create and modernize fisheries and aquaculture infrastructure across the country. The scheme, originally approved for 2018-19 to 2022-23, has been extended by the Union Cabinet for a further three years, from April 2023 to March 2026, to continue supporting the sector's capital investment needs. As of early 2026, over 225 projects worth more than ₹6,685 crore have been sanctioned under FIDF across fishing harbours, landing centres, and processing infrastructure.

Key Benefits

• Interest Subvention up to 3% per annum: The Government of India bears up to 3% of the interest cost on loans disbursed by Nodal Loaning Entities (NLEs), bringing the effective lending rate down to not less than 5% per annum for the borrower.
• Loan up to 80% of Project Cost: Eligible applicants can avail loans covering up to 80% of the estimated/actual project cost, with the remaining 20% contributed as margin money (margin money is not mandatory for State/UT government-implemented projects).
• Long Repayment Tenure: Loans are repayable over up to 12 years, including a moratorium period of up to 2 years on principal repayment.
• Three Nodal Loaning Entities (NLEs): NABARD lends to State/UT Governments and State entities, NCDC lends to the cooperative sector, and all Scheduled Banks lend to private entrepreneurs and companies.
• Wide Range of Eligible Infrastructure: Marine and inland fishing harbours, fish landing centres, cold chains and reefer vehicles, ice plants, fish/feed processing and quality testing labs, Recirculatory Aquaculture Systems (RAS), biofloc units, open-sea cage culture, brood banks, and aquatic quarantine facilities.
• Credit Guarantee Cover: A dedicated Credit Guarantee Scheme has been introduced to secure FIDF loans, reducing collateral requirements for eligible borrowers.

Eligibility Criteria

1. State Governments/Union Territories and their corporations, boards, or federations implementing public-sector fisheries infrastructure projects.
2. Cooperative societies, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) engaged in fisheries and aquaculture activities.
3. Individual entrepreneurs, partnership firms, private companies, and SC/ST, women, and physically challenged entrepreneurs undertaking eligible fisheries infrastructure projects.
4. The National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), state fisheries corporations/federations/boards, and any other institution notified by the Government.
5. The proposed project must fall within the list of eligible infrastructure activities notified under FIDF guidelines and must have a bankable Detailed Project Report (DPR).
6. Applicant should not be in default to any bank/financial institution and must meet the lending bank's or NLE's standard creditworthiness norms.

Documents Required

• Detailed Project Report (DPR) with cost estimates, layout drawings, and implementation timelines.
• Land ownership/lease documents and site details for the proposed infrastructure.
• Quotations for machinery, equipment, and construction materials.
• Economic viability analysis/financial projections (cash flow, repayment capacity).
• KYC documents: Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, and address proof of the applicant/entity.
• Bank account details and latest bank statements.
• Registration certificate (for cooperatives, SHGs, FPOs, or companies) and caste/category certificate, where applicable.
• No Objection Certificate (NOC) from relevant local/environmental authorities, if required for the project.

How to Apply

1. Prepare the DPR: Work with a qualified consultant or the state fisheries department to prepare a bankable Detailed Project Report covering project cost, technical design, and financial viability.
2. Choose the Nodal Loaning Entity: State/UT government projects apply through NABARD; cooperative sector projects apply through NCDC; private entrepreneurs and companies approach Scheduled Banks or the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB).
3. Submit Online/Offline: Applications can be submitted online through the FIDF portal (fidf.in) or the National Fisheries Development Board's portal (nfdb.gov.in), or offline by submitting the DPR to the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi, with a copy to NFDB, Hyderabad.
4. Appraisal by NLE: The concerned NLE (NABARD/NCDC/bank) appraises the DPR for technical and financial feasibility and sanctions the loan.
5. Loan Disbursement: Upon sanction, the loan is disbursed in instalments linked to project progress, and interest subvention is applied directly on the applicable interest rate.
6. Monitoring: Project implementation and fund utilization are monitored jointly by the NLE and the Department of Fisheries/NFDB until completion.

Important Points

• Visit the official Department of Fisheries website (dof.gov.in/fidf) or the FIDF portal (fidf.in) for the latest guidelines, eligible activity list, and application forms — scheme terms are periodically revised.
• The current extended phase of FIDF runs from April 2023 to March 2026; applicants should confirm the latest validity and corpus utilization status before applying.
• Margin money contribution of 20% is waived for State/UT government-implemented projects but required for cooperatives and private entrepreneurs.
• A Credit Guarantee Scheme is available to help entrepreneurs who lack adequate collateral access FIDF-linked loans.
• Beneficiaries should ensure compliance with coastal regulation zone (CRZ), environmental clearance, and other statutory norms applicable to fisheries infrastructure projects.
• For complaints or clarifications, applicants can contact the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Hyderabad, or the respective NLE's regional office.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF)?

FIDF is a dedicated fund created by the Government of India to provide concessional loans for building and upgrading fisheries and aquaculture infrastructure such as fishing harbours, cold chains, and aquaculture systems, administered by the Department of Fisheries.

How much interest subvention is available under FIDF?

Eligible borrowers receive interest subvention of up to 3% per annum on loans from Nodal Loaning Entities, ensuring the effective lending rate is not lower than 5% per annum.

Who are the Nodal Loaning Entities (NLEs) under FIDF?

NABARD lends to State/UT Governments and their entities, NCDC lends to the cooperative sector, and Scheduled Banks lend to private entrepreneurs and companies.

What is the maximum loan amount available under FIDF?

Eligible applicants can get a loan covering up to 80% of the project cost, with the remaining 20% to be contributed as margin money (waived for State/UT government projects).

What is the repayment period for FIDF loans?

Loans can be repaid over a period of up to 12 years, which includes a moratorium of up to 2 years on principal repayment.

What kind of infrastructure projects are eligible under FIDF?

Eligible projects include fishing harbours, fish landing centres, cold chains, ice plants, RAS and biofloc units, open-sea cage culture, hatcheries, fish feed mills, and aquatic quarantine/disease diagnostic facilities.

How can I apply for a loan under FIDF?

Applicants prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) and apply through the relevant NLE — NABARD for state projects, NCDC for cooperatives, or Scheduled Banks/NFDB for private entrepreneurs — either online via fidf.in/nfdb.gov.in or offline by submitting the DPR to the Department of Fisheries.

Is FIDF still open for new applications in 2026?

The current extended phase of FIDF runs until March 2026. Applicants should check the official FIDF portal (fidf.in) or dof.gov.in for the latest status, as the Government periodically reviews and may further extend such schemes.