The government announced that the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme has approved loans for over two lakh micro food processing enterprises, with project investments exceeding Rs 20,300 crore. Chirag Paswan, Minister for Food Processing Industries, shared this achievement at an event, highlighting that a significant portion of beneficiaries are first-generation entrepreneurs and women entrepreneurs.
Nearly 90% of the beneficiaries under the scheme are first-generation entrepreneurs, with 44% being women entrepreneurs. More than 75,000 PMFME-supported enterprises have formalized their presence in the economy through registrations like Udyam Aadhaar, Udyam Assist, FSSAI, and GST. The scheme has also created around 11 lakh direct and indirect job opportunities.
Paswan emphasized that reaching two lakh beneficiaries showcases the tangible impact of the scheme nationwide. He praised the high participation of women entrepreneurs, calling it a key aspect of women-led development and a vital part of Viksit Bharat. Additionally, the scheme’s Seed Capital support has aided over 4.18 lakh Self Help Group members, with 80 Common Incubation Centres established across 27 States/UTs.
Devesh Deval, Joint Secretary, MoFPI, announced a multimedia awareness campaign for the PMFME scheme, emphasizing its comprehensive support for micro-food processing entrepreneurs. He highlighted the scheme’s role in transforming livelihoods, strengthening local value chains, and creating sustainable employment opportunities throughout the country. The PMFME scheme’s One District One Product (ODOP) approach supports 40 common brands encompassing nearly 200 products, fostering local value chains nationwide.
