In a span of less than 3 months, the Department of Food Processing under the visionary guidance of the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has supported about 300 micro/small food processing enterprises. These have been given loans and subsidies amounting to Rs. 100 Crore under PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme run jointly by Punjab Government and Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries. These enterprises are owned by small time local farmers/enterprises which will provide direct employment to over 1,500 skilled & semi-skilled persons.
This was disclosed by the Food Processing Minister, Fauja Singh Sarari on Tuesday during a meeting to review the working of the department with a view to streamline its functioning. The welfare of the farming community of the State at the core of the government's policies, he said.
Emphasizing on conducting awareness camps at district and block levels to educate farmers/entrepreneurs about the benefits of the Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme, the Minister said that the scheme provides credit linked capital subsidy @ 35 percent of project cost with maximum Rs. 10 lakh for upgradation of existing units or setting up of new food processing units. “Punjab is amongst first five states to have crossed 500 mark of individual beneficiaries”, said the Minister adding the department has also recommended six units under Group category, involving a total investment of over Rs. 18.5 Crore comprising subsidy amount of Rs. 6.28 Crore (@ 35% of project cost, maximum Rs. 3 Crore).
The scheme includes manufacturing of fortified rice, jaggery, bakery products, honey, pickle, murabba etc.
These units are being set up by Farmer Producers Organizations and Self Help Groups.
The Minister also directed the officers of the department to ensure that signboards of the offices of the above Scheme are prominently displayed at all the District Industries Centres across the State enabling the farmers to obtain necessary information with regard to the scheme.
Among others present on the occasion included ACS (Food Processing) Anurag Aggarwal, Special Secretary Manjit Singh Brar and General Manager Punjab Agro and Food Processing Department Rajnish Tuli.