FIDF Fisheries Loan: Eligibility, 3% Subvention and How to Apply

Reviewed by: WeCredit Research Team

The Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) gives concessional loans for fisheries infrastructure such as harbours, cold chains, hatcheries and processing units. Federal Bank states that eligible borrowers can get a loan of up to 80% of the project cost, and the government scheme provides up to 3% interest subvention for a repayment period of up to 12 years including a 2-year moratorium.

FIDF at a Glance

Item	What the official sources say
What it is	A fund set up in 2018-19 under the Department of Fisheries to lend for fisheries infrastructure at concessional rates
Fund size	Rs 7,522.48 crore in total
Who can apply	State governments and UTs, state-owned corporations, fisheries cooperatives and federations, collective groups of fish farmers, SHGs, NGOs, women and entrepreneurs, individuals, private companies
Loan cover	Up to 80% of the project cost on bankable projects, as stated by Federal Bank
Your margin	At least 20% of the project cost (Federal Bank)
Interest subvention	Up to 3% a year for up to 12 years including a 2-year moratorium
Rate to final borrower	Concessional finance at not lower than 5% a year (PM India Cabinet release)
Lenders	NABARD, NCDC and all scheduled banks, called Nodal Loaning Entities
Nodal agency	National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Hyderabad
Credit guarantee	Cover of up to Rs 12.50 crore from the existing guarantee fund (PIB, August 2025)

What FIDF Funds

The Cabinet release lists the activities that FIDF supports. These include fishing harbours and fish landing centres, ice plants and cold storage, fish transport and integrated cold chains, modern fish markets, brood banks and hatcheries, fish seed farms, aquaculture development, fish feed mills and processing units, cage culture in reservoirs, deep sea fishing vessels, disease diagnostic labs, mariculture and aquatic quarantine facilities. Federal Bank adds that other innovative projects that raise fish production, productivity or value can also qualify. The activities listed are all infrastructure and asset projects.

If you are looking at a subsidy-based fisheries scheme rather than a concessional loan, read about the PM Matsya Sampada subsidy. FIDF and PMMSY are separate schemes, and the Department of Fisheries has proposed continuation of both for 2026-27 to 2030-31.

Who Is Eligible for FIDF

• The applicant should be an eligible entity: a state government or UT, a state-owned corporation, a fisheries cooperative or federation, a collective group of fish farmers or fish producers, a Panchayati Raj Institution, a self-help group, an NGO, a woman entrepreneur, a private company or an individual entrepreneur.
• Federal Bank also lists individuals, SC and ST borrowers, marginal farmers and physically disabled persons, and leaves room for any other entity the government decides.
• The project must fall in an eligible activity and be bankable. The lender decides whether the project is viable.
• You must be able to bring at least 20% of the project cost as margin money.
• All necessary approvals and clearances for running the project should be attached to the DPR.

How the 3% Interest Subvention Works

The subvention is meant to bring down the interest cost of the project loan. The Cabinet release says the subvention is up to 3% a year for a repayment period of 12 years including a 2-year moratorium, and that the Nodal Loaning Entities lend to final borrowers at a rate not lower than 5% a year. The Central Approval and Monitoring Committee (CAMC) gives in-principle approval for the subvention, and the bank still decides whether to lend.

Worked example (illustrative numbers)

Suppose an entrepreneur plans a fish processing and cold storage unit that costs Rs 2 crore on eligible items. A loan of up to 80% means up to Rs 1.6 crore, and the promoter brings at least 20%, which is Rs 40 lakh. If the bank charges 9% a year, the effective cost would be about 6% if the full 3% subvention applies. On Rs 1.6 crore, 3% is about Rs 4.8 lakh in the first year, falling as the principal reduces. The rate and the subvention actually applied depend on the bank and the CAMC decision, so treat these numbers only as an illustration.

Repayment, Security and Costs

Federal Bank states that loans can run for up to 12 years including a 2-year moratorium on principal repayment. Repayment is in monthly or quarterly instalments, graded instalments are allowed, and interest is serviced monthly. The PIB document of August 2025 says a credit guarantee cover of up to Rs 12.50 crore is available using the existing fund of the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund. Ask your bank about security, processing fees and other charges in writing, and compare the sanction terms of at least two scheduled banks.

The guarantee cover comes from the fund created for animal husbandry infrastructure, which has its own loan scheme described in our AHIDF animal husbandry loan page.

Documents You Will Need

The scheme asks for a complete DPR or self-contained proposal that includes all approvals needed to run the project. The bank may ask for more, so confirm its own checklist. A practical list to prepare:

• Detailed project report with project cost, technical design, expected output, income, repayment plan and viability
• All statutory approvals and clearances needed to operate the project, attached to the DPR
• Identity and address proof of the applicant, and registration papers if you are a company, cooperative, SHG or federation
• Proof of land ownership or lease for the project site
• Evidence of your 20% margin money
• Bank statements and financial statements that your bank requests

The first two items come from the scheme’s application route. The others are standard bank asks, and the bank sets the final list.

How to Apply: Step by Step

1. Prepare a DPR or self-contained proposal for your project with all approvals attached.
2. Submit it in the prescribed number of copies to the Department of Fisheries (Joint Secretary, Fisheries, Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi) with a copy to the Chief Executive of NFDB, Hyderabad. NFDB also runs an online FIDF portal for applications and tracking.
3. NFDB, as the nodal implementing agency, scrutinises the proposal.
4. NFDB places it before the Central Approval and Monitoring Committee, which gives in-principle approval for interest subvention and recommends the proposal to the bank.
5. The bank appraises the project and takes the lending decision. This stage is entirely the bank’s call.

Why Proposals Get Stuck and How to Fix Them

Problem	Why it happens	Fix
Incomplete DPR	The proposal must be self-contained with all approvals	Attach every clearance before you submit
Ineligible entity or activity	Only listed entities and fisheries infrastructure qualify	Check the activity list above and confirm with NFDB
Bank declines the loan	The lending decision is left to the bank	Ask for the reason, strengthen the DPR and margin proof, or approach another scheduled bank
Margin money missing	The bank expects at least 20% from the promoter	Arrange your share before applying
Scheme window unclear	Official validity was stated as up to 2025-26 and a continuation is only proposed	Ask NFDB and the bank if new proposals are accepted

FIDF Compared With Related Schemes

	FIDF	PMMSY	AHIDF
Main purpose	Fisheries infrastructure loans	Fisheries development with subsidy	Dairy, meat and feed plants
Type of help	Concessional loan with up to 3% subvention	Subsidy on approved projects	3% interest subvention
Department	Fisheries (NFDB is nodal agency)	Fisheries	Animal Husbandry and Dairying

Is FIDF Right for You? Checklist

• My project is fisheries infrastructure such as a hatchery, cold chain, feed mill, processing unit or harbour facility.
• I am an eligible type of entity.
• I can fund the 20% margin.
• I can prepare a DPR with all necessary approvals.
• NFDB and my bank confirm they are taking new proposals.

Common Mistakes

• Treating FIDF as a subsidy. It is a loan, and only the interest support is given by the government.
• Applying without margin money or with missing approvals.
• Paying an agent for a guaranteed approval. Use only the official channels and a bank.

WeCredit does not sanction government scheme loans. To compare other options, see our government loan schemes hub.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is FIDF still open?

The latest official validity is up to 2025-26. A continuation for 2026-27 to 2030-31 has been proposed, but a final approval is not yet confirmed on an official page. Check with NFDB and your bank.

How much loan can I get under FIDF?

Federal Bank states up to 80% of the project cost on bankable projects, with at least 20% as your margin.

How much interest subvention does FIDF give?

Up to 3% a year for a repayment period of up to 12 years including a 2-year moratorium.

Who can apply for FIDF?

State governments, state-owned corporations, fisheries cooperatives, groups of fish farmers, SHGs, NGOs, women entrepreneurs, individuals and private companies.

Where do I apply for FIDF?

Send a DPR to the Department of Fisheries with a copy to NFDB, Hyderabad, which also runs an online FIDF portal. The bank then decides on the loan.

What can FIDF finance?

Fisheries infrastructure such as harbours, ice plants, cold chains, hatcheries, feed mills, processing units, mariculture and deep sea vessels.

What is the interest rate to the borrower?

The Cabinet release says Nodal Loaning Entities lend at a rate not lower than 5% a year. The bank sets the actual rate.