The Animal Husbandry Budgam today organized a daylong Awareness cum Motivational camp regarding PM-FME (ODOP) scheme at Main Veterinary Campus, Budgam. At the outset, Chief Animal Husbandry Officer Budgam Dr Sheikh Abdul Hai (District Nodal Officer for PM-FME scheme) addressed the participants and apprised them of the benefits of establishing a unit under the scheme and how it will help them in employment generation and uplifting their socio-economic condition.
During his speech, Dr Mohd Iqbal Baba Chief Horticulture Officer Budgam informed the participants about the key challenges faced by the food processing sector viz. gaps in supply chain infrastructure, lack of investment and access to modern technology and equipment and the lack of marketing and branding expertise.
He said that the PM-FME scheme is one of the most potent answers to these all problems launched by the Central Government with an aim to enhance the competitiveness of existing individual micro-enterprises in the unorganized segment of the food processing industry and to promote formalization of the sector and provide support to Farmer Producer Organizations, Self Help Groups and Producers’ Cooperatives along their entire value chain.
During the event, Dr Javed Ahmed Superintendent District Veterinary Hospital Budgam, presented the detailed guidelines of the scheme and said that the application process for availing benefits under the scheme has been made very easy for which an online portal has been designed on which any interested youth can apply.
Further, Officers from Department of Animal Husbandry Budgam and District Resource Person PM-FME scheme Budgam assured the participants that they are always ready to provide handholding support to the motivated beneficiaries in terms of DPR preparation and technical guidance.
Many Participants were motivated towards the potentials in establishment of Micro food processing units under "Pradhan Mantri-Formalization of Micro food processing Enterprises Scheme (PM FME Scheme).