PMFME scheme crosses 2 lakh credit-linked micro food processing beneficiaries
New Delhi, July 11
The government on Saturday said the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme has surpassed sanctioning of loans to more than two lakh micro food processing enterprises.
While crossing 2 lakh loan sanctions, the scheme has leveraged project investments of over Rs 20,300 crore, informed Chirag Paswan, Minister for Food Processing Industries.
Speaking at an event here to celebrate the historic milestone, the minister said nearly 90 per cent of beneficiaries are first-generation entrepreneurs and 44 per cent are women entrepreneurs, while over 75,000 PMFME-supported enterprises have entered the formal economy through registrations such as Udyam Aadhaar, Udyam Assist, FSSAI and GST.
The scheme has generated nearly 11 lakh direct and indirect employment opportunities, he informed.
Paswan said the achievement of two lakh beneficiaries "demonstrates that this vision is translating into measurable outcomes across the country," describing the participation of women entrepreneurs, at nearly 44 per cent of all beneficiaries as "the true spirit of women-led development, a cornerstone of Viksit Bharat."
The minister also highlighted the Scheme's Seed Capital support, under which more than 4.18 lakh Self Help Group members have been supported and the Ministry's network of 80 Common Incubation Centres approved across 27 States/UTs, of which 32 have been commissioned.
More than 1.76 lakh beneficiaries have been trained under the Scheme, of whom 77 percent are women.
Devesh Deval, Joint Secretary, MoFPI, while announcing the launch of a nationwide multimedia awareness campaign, conveyed the importance of PMFME scheme that provides the end-to-end support to the micro-food processing entrepreneurs starting from the financial assistance, training, handholding, branding and marketing to the market linkage.
Deval noted that "PMFME is not merely supporting enterprises; it is transforming livelihoods, strengthening local value chains and creating sustainable employment opportunities across the country."
Officials also highlighted the Scheme's One District One Product (ODOP) approach and its support for 40 common brands covering nearly 200 products, through which PMFME is building local value chains around products such as Makhana, millets, spices and GI-tagged products across the country.
— IANS
Reader Comments
44% women entrepreneurs and 77% women trained? That's impressive. The fact that 90% are first-generation entrepreneurs shows this is truly empowering small families, not the big corporates. Seed capital for 4 lakh SHG members is a huge push for rural women's self-reliance. Hope the awareness campaign reaches even remote villages.
Good numbers on paper, but the real test is how many of these enterprises survive beyond 2-3 years. The ODOP approach is smart though — focusing on local specialties like Makhana or millets ensures these products have a natural market. Let's see if the branding and marketing support actually translates into sustainable businesses.
Interesting to see India's approach to formalizing micro enterprises. The combination of credit, training, and market linkage seems similar to some small business programs in the US, but the SHG and ODOP elements are quite unique. 11 lakh jobs from 2 lakh enterprises is roughly 5.5 jobs each — that's meaningful in a country with India's demographic profile.
As someone who works with SHGs in Maharashtra, I appreciate the Seed Capital component. Many women take sava rupaye ka loan from private moneylenders — this formal credit is a huge relief. But the article doesn't mention interest rates or repayment issues. Hope the scheme has some flexibility for first-timers who might struggle with cash flow initially.
The 75,000 enterprises entering formal economy via Udyam Aadhaar and FSSAI is a big deal. Before this, so many micro food
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