New Delhi: Union Minister of Food Processing Industries Shri Chirag Paswan has achieved a significant milestone under the PMFME scheme, with loans sanctioned to over 2 lakh micro food processing enterprises. Investments exceeding ₹20,300 crore have been mobilized under the scheme, with 90% of the beneficiaries being first-generation entrepreneurs and 44% being women. It has facilitated the formalization of over 75,000 enterprises and generated approximately 11 lakh direct and indirect jobs.
The event showcased the PMFME Scheme’s achievements through the release of publications, entrepreneur success stories, and interactions between Union Minister Shri Chirag Paswan and beneficiaries.
Joint Secretary Shri Devesh Deval announced a nationwide awareness campaign, highlighting the extensive support available under this scheme for micro food processing enterprises. Secretary Shri A.P. Das Joshi described this achievement as evidence of a robust food processing ecosystem and emphasized the scheme’s integrated approach towards finance, formalization, capacity building, and market access.
Officials emphasized the ‘One District One Product’ (ODOP) initiative under the PMFME scheme, which promotes the region’s unique food products. By supporting 40 common brands comprising approximately 200 products, the scheme is strengthening local food value chains across the country for items such as makhana, millets, spices, and GI-tagged products.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Chirag Paswan stated that the achievement of reaching two lakh beneficiaries “demonstrates that this vision is translating into tangible results across the country.” He described the approximately 44 percent participation of women entrepreneurs among the beneficiaries as “the true spirit of women-led development and the cornerstone of a developed India.”
The Minister stated that under this scheme, over 4.18 lakh Self-Help Group (SHG) members have been supported with ‘seed capital’ assistance, and 80 Common Incubation Centers have been established across 27 states and Union Territories. He also mentioned that training has been provided to more than 1.76 lakh beneficiaries, 77% of whom are women. During the event, Shri Chirag Paswan felicitated the scheme’s 200,000th beneficiary, Shri Indrajit Singh from Ranchi, Jharkhand, and handed over the loan sanction letter and a certificate to him.
Reaching over two lakh credit-linked beneficiaries marks a significant milestone in the Government of India’s efforts to formalize and strengthen the micro-food processing sector. It also reaffirms the Ministry’s steadfast commitment to enterprise-led growth in line with the visions of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Viksit Bharat @2047’.
(PIB)
