The PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM) program, a centrally funded program, was launched by the Ministry of Food Industry (MoFPI) in collaboration with the state governments / UT as part of Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. The aim is to provide financial, technical and business support for the modernization of existing micro-food processing companies. For a period of five years from 2020 to 2025, an amount of 10,000 rupees was invested in the program.
Swati Deodhar Singh, District-Resource-Person-Maharashtra, PM FME-Program, told FnB News: “The program is not aimed at food companies but is to expand the scope, strengthen and mobilize the rural, semi-urban and urban levels Households or food businesses at the micro level. This is a program that aims in the long term to get Indian businesses out of small or micro businesses. „
She added: “The main thing is to add value to existing micro-businesses in the food processing industry. For example – there is a specialty product from Palghar that is a salty snack like a pad that can be fried and eaten with your meal. This type of food forms a type of local cuisine or local processed food that requires consumer awareness. The specially trained officials will train these type of micro-business owners on how to do this and help them have more hygienic practices, systematic production of products, market identification, more customer focus and the ability to bring their products to market in order to reach more consumers in India ‘improved. „
The program uses the One District One product approach to take advantage of scaling in terms of sourcing inputs, obtaining shared services, and marketing products. “ODOP is a function that is tailored to specific products. Example: If someone wants to receive these grants from Palghar and Thane, the focus must be on Chickoo plants or Barnyard Millet (Vari). This ensures that all the big chickoo companies and different companies are from Palghar and Thane etc for different districts, ”said Singh.
The program will shortly introduce a special provision whereby each state or two and three states together form a pilot plan / training center. If there are grain or millet processing centers, the government will provide the grant aid and promote the products in a variety of ways so that every farmer and micro-business owner can display their product and try other products.
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