The Warehouse Infrastructure Fund (WIF) is a NABARD-managed financing programme created with a corpus of Rs. 5,000 crore to support development of warehousing, silos, and cold chain infrastructure in India. It provides refinance-based credit support for agricultural storage projects with a minimum capacity requirement of 5,000 metric tonnes (MT).
You can check eligibility and apply through participating banks after submitting a detailed project report (DPR) and completing standard credit appraisal.
In summary
- The Warehouse Infrastructure Fund (WIF) is a financing mechanism implemented by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) to support scientific storage infrastructure across India.
- It was created with a total corpus of Rs. 5,000 crore and is used for extending loans for warehouses, silos, and cold storage infrastructure.
- Eligible projects must have a minimum aggregate capacity of 5,000 metric tonnes (MT), except certain government-owned entities.
- The scheme supports public and private sector participation, including cooperatives, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), and private developers.
- This page explains objectives, eligibility, infrastructure types, application process, documents, and scheme comparisons based strictly on NABARD guidelines.
What is the warehouse infrastructure fund (WIF)?
The warehouse infrastructure fund (WIF) is a dedicated fund established by the Government of India and implemented by NABARD to improve agricultural storage capacity in the country. It was introduced with a corpus of Rs. 5,000 crore and is used for providing loans for warehouses, silos, cold storages, and other cold chain infrastructure. The scheme aims to reduce post-harvest losses by expanding scientific storage facilities across rural and semi-urban areas. According to NABARD guidelines, projects must generally meet a minimum capacity of 5,000 metric tonnes (MT) for eligibility, ensuring large-scale storage efficiency improvements.
Objectives of the NABARD warehouse infrastructure fund
- To increase scientific storage capacity for agricultural and allied produce across India.
- To reduce post-harvest losses through modern warehousing and cold chain infrastructure.
- To provide refinance support to banks for financing warehouse and storage projects.
- To encourage participation from private sector, cooperatives, FPOs, and public agencies in infrastructure development.
- To modernise existing storage facilities to meet scientific storage standards.
- To improve market efficiency and price realisation for farmers by reducing distress sales.
Eligibility criteria for the warehouse infrastructure fund
- Eligible applicants include State Governments, cooperatives, FPOs, corporates, private entrepreneurs, APMCs, and SPVs under PPP mode.
- Projects must involve creation of storage infrastructure such as warehouses, silos, or cold chain facilities.
- The minimum capacity requirement is generally 5,000 metric tonnes (MT) for agricultural storage projects.
- The proposal must be supported by a detailed project report (DPR) and financial appraisal from a lending institution.
- Land availability or long-term lease rights must be legally established for project execution.
- Projects must comply with technical and engineering standards prescribed under NABARD operational guidelines.
- Preference is given to regions with storage deficits, including Eastern and North-Eastern states.
- Borrowers must meet standard credit eligibility norms set by participating financial institutions.
Subsidy rates and loan limits under WIF
| Component | Details (as per NABARD guidelines) |
|---|---|
| Fund corpus | Rs. 5,000 crore |
| Loan mechanism | Refinance support through NABARD to lending institutions |
| Purpose | Construction, modernisation, and expansion of warehouses and cold chain infrastructure |
| Eligible entities | State Governments, cooperatives, FPOs, corporates, APMCs, SPVs |
| Minimum project size | 5,000 MT (aggregate capacity for storage projects) |
| Infrastructure covered | Warehouses, silos, cold storages, CA stores, and cold chain units |
| Implementation mode | Through scheduled commercial banks and financial institutions |
| Tenure | As per bank lending norms under refinance structure |
Types of warehouses eligible under the WIF scheme
- Scientific warehouses for storage of grains, pulses, and oilseeds with controlled conditions.
- Cold storage facilities for perishable commodities such as fruits, vegetables, and dairy products.
- Silos for bulk grain storage with mechanised handling systems.
- Controlled atmosphere (CA) storage units for long-duration preservation of perishables.
- Integrated agri-logistics facilities including grading, sorting, and packaging units.
- Warehouses developed by FPOs and cooperatives for collective storage and marketing.
How to apply online for the warehouse infrastructure fund in 2026
- Prepare a detailed project report (DPR) including technical design, capacity, and financial projections.
- Approach a participating bank or financial institution eligible for NABARD refinance.
- Submit application along with KYC documents, land papers, and financial statements.
- The bank conducts technical, financial, and credit appraisal of the project.
- If approved, the proposal is forwarded to NABARD for refinance under WIF.
- Loan is sanctioned and disbursed in stages based on construction progress.
- Periodic inspections are conducted during implementation to ensure compliance.
- Final approval is granted after completion and verification of infrastructure standards.
Documents required for warehouse infrastructure fund application
- Detailed project report (DPR) with cost and technical feasibility.
- Identity and address proof of applicant or organisation (KYC documents).
- Land ownership documents or valid lease agreement.
- Financial statements and bank account details for credit assessment.
- Registration documents for FPOs, cooperatives, or corporate entities.
- Approved building plans and engineering drawings.
- No objection certificates (NOCs) from relevant local authorities, wherever applicable.
WIF vs other NABARD agricultural storage schemes: key differences
| Feature | Warehouse infrastructure fund (WIF) | Other NABARD storage schemes |
|---|---|---|
| Objective | Large-scale scientific storage infrastructure | Smaller or diversified rural infrastructure support |
| Corpus | Rs. 5,000 crore | Scheme-specific allocations |
| Eligibility | FPOs, corporates, cooperatives, APMCs, SPVs | Broader rural development entities |
| Project size | Minimum 5,000 MT capacity | Varies by scheme |
| Funding type | Refinance through NABARD | Direct subsidy or mixed models |
| Infrastructure scope | Warehouses, silos, cold chain systems | Rural storage and allied infrastructure |
| Implementation | Bank-mediated refinance system | Direct and indirect government channels |
Pros and cons of the NABARD warehouse subsidy scheme
Pros:
- Strengthens agricultural supply chains through scientific storage infrastructure.
- Reduces post-harvest losses by improving warehousing capacity.
- Enables long-term institutional financing through refinance support.
- Encourages private and cooperative sector participation in agri-infrastructure.
Cons:
- Requires high initial capital investment and detailed project documentation.
- Multi-stage approval process involving banks and NABARD.
- Viability depends on regional agricultural production patterns.
- Implementation timelines can be extended due to compliance requirements.
Conclusion
The warehouse infrastructure fund (WIF) is a NABARD-led financing programme designed to expand India’s agricultural storage capacity through structured refinance support. It enables development of warehouses, silos, and cold chain infrastructure with a minimum capacity benchmark of 5,000 MT to ensure large-scale efficiency in the agricultural supply chain.
You can explore related financial tools such as business loans, check updated business loan interest rate, or use a business loan EMI calculator for planning project financing options.
