Is there a subsidy to start a piggery unit and which scheme covers it?

Yes, piggery is a supported activity, mainly under the National Livestock Mission entrepreneurship component which covers pig units along with poultry, sheep and goat, and several state animal husbandry departments, especially in the North East where pig farming is popular, run their own piggery subsidy schemes. The support is generally a back-ended capital subsidy as a percentage of project cost up to a ceiling, with a higher slab and relaxed conditions often available for SC, ST, women and North East and hill applicants. The process is the standard one: prepare a DPR for your piggery unit, apply through the NLM portal or your State Animal Husbandry Department, get it appraised, tie up a bank term loan, build the unit, and the subsidy is released through NABARD and adjusted against your loan after completion and verification. The exact percentage, eligible unit size and ceiling are revised periodically and differ between the central scheme and state schemes, so confirm the current slab with your district animal husbandry office, which can also tell you if a dedicated state piggery scheme gives a better deal than NLM in your area. Plan breed, housing and biosecurity with a vet, as pig health and disease control strongly affect returns.