The Department of Sheep Husbandry Bandipora today organised a day-long workshop on the centrally sponsored scheme of ‘Prime Minister's Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprise’ (PMFME) at Dak Bungalow Sumbal.
The programme witnessed overwhelming participation of youth, progressive farmers and aspiring entrepreneurs interested in setting up micro food processing units. The members of the District Level Screening Committee (DLSC) of the PMFME scheme were also present on the occasion.
In his inaugural address, DSHO Bandipora, Dr. Showkat Ahmad who is District Nodal officer for PM-FME presented the overview of the micro food processing sector in the country and the need to strengthen and integrate the existing unorganized micro food processing units with the formal supply chain.
He urged the youth to set up their own individual micro enterprises and avail the benefit of credit linked subsidy at the rate of 35% of the eligible project cost with a maximum ceiling of Rs 10.0 lakh per unit and interest subvention at the rate of 2% available under the scheme.
He said that under support to Group category for setting up of common infrastructure/ value chain/ incubation centre the applicant, organizations can avail credit linked capital subsidy at the rate of 35% of the eligible project cost with a maximum ceiling of Rs 3.00 crore.
Dr. Showkat further informed that the scheme provides complete hand holding for the interested beneficiaries including training, technology, branding, access to capital and marketing. However for availing benefit under the scheme the applicants need to register themselves on the PM-FME portal.
He further said that interested youth of age group 18 years and above who desire to avail the benefit under the scheme can contact the District resource person (DRP) nominated by the Govt for assistance in the application submission process, support in DPR preparation, getting a bank loan, etc.
The CHO, AMO, SDAO and District officer JKEDI deliberated upon aims and objectives of the scheme which primarily focus on the competitiveness of existing individual micro-enterprises in the unorganized segment of the food processing industry and promote formalization of the sector.
They urged the youth to set up their own individual enterprises like milk, poultry, vegetable, fruit and mutton processing units.