New Delhi (NVI): In line with the Centre’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ initiative, the Ministry for Food Processing has launched the PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM FME) scheme today which would generate an investment of Rs 35,000 crore and 9 lakh employment opportunities.
Minister for Food Processing Industries, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, while launching the scheme said that, “The Ministry will adopt the ‘One District One Product (ODOP)’ approach and focus on scaling up existing clusters. States will be given complete flexibility in deciding what product needs to be promoted and from which districts.”
These could be perishable or cereal based products such as mango, potato, litchi, tomato, poultry or millet-based products.
The scheme will assist nearly 2 lakh micro-food processing enterprises with credit-linked subsidy and special focus will be on supporting farmer producers organisations, self-help groups and cottage industries in rural and tribal regions, over the next five years.
Pleased to launch the centrally sponsored Pradhan Mantri Scheme for Formalization of MicroFood Processing Enterprises (PM FME) as a part of #AtmaNirbharBharatAbhiyan.
The scheme is to generate an investment of Rs 35,000 cr & 9 lakh skilled & semi-skilled employment.#SapnoKiUdaan https://t.co/QOwajlhdJu— Harsimrat Kaur Badal (@HarsimratBadal_) June 29, 2020
The expenditure under the scheme would to be shared in 60:40 ratio between Central and State Governments, in 90:10 ratio with North Eastern and Himalayan States, 60:40 ratio with UTs with legislature and 100% by Centre for other UTs.
Union FPI Minister said, “The unorganized food processing sector comprising nearly 25 lakh units contribute to 74% of employment in food processing sector. Nearly 66% of these units are located in rural areas and about 80% of them are family-based enterprises supporting livelihood rural household and minimizing their migration to urban areas.”
Support would be provided through credit linked grant of 35% for development of common infrastructure including common processing facility, lab, warehouse, cold storage, packaging and incubation center through FPOs/SHGs/cooperatives or state owned agencies or private enterprise to use by micro units in the cluster.
-CHK
