New Delhi, Sept 11 (KNN) The Central government has revised "Transport and Marketing Assistance" (TMA) scheme for Specified Agriculture Products. The scheme has been extended till March 31, 2022.

Enhanced assistance under the revised scheme is expected to help Indian exporters of agricultural products to meet rising freight and logistics costs, the government said in a statement.

In February 2019, the Department of Commerce had introduced ‘Transport and Marketing Assistance (TMA) for Specified Agriculture Products Scheme’ to provide assistance for the international component of freight, to mitigate the disadvantage of higher freight costs faced by the Indian exporters of agriculture products.

The scheme was initially applicable for exports effected during the period from 01.03.2019 to 31.03.2020 and was later extended for exports effected up to 31.03.2021.

Now the Department has notified ‘Revised Transport and Marketing Assistance (TMA) for Specified Agriculture Products Scheme’ for exports effected on or after 01.04.2021 up to 31.03.2022. The existing scheme will remain in operation for exports effected up to 31.03.2021.

According to the revised scheme, dairy products which were not covered under the earlier the scheme will be eligible for assistance under the revised scheme. Rates of assistance have been increased, by 50% for exports by sea and by 100% for exports by air.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) will shortly notify the procedure for availing assistance under the revised scheme.