New Delhi: Union Cabinet Minister for Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Monday launched the Prime Minister Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM FME) scheme along with its guidelines as a part of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan'. The scheme is expected to generate a total investment of Rs 35,000 crore along with 9 lakh jobs and benefit 8 lakh units through access to information, training, better exposure and formalisation
Food Processing Ministry launches PM FME scheme to generate Rs 35,000 cr investment, 9 lakh jobs Badal also launched the new guidelines for TOP (Tomatoes, Onion and Potatoes) to TOTAL scheme during the event.
PM FME will be implemented for 5 years from 2020- 21 to 2024 -25 with an outlay of Rs 10,000 crore. The expenditure under the scheme will be shared in 60:40 between Central and state government and 90:10 in North Eastern and the Himalayan States.
The scheme will adopt one district one product approach to reap the benefit of scale in terms of procedure of input and marketing of products. The states would identify food product for a district keeping in view the existing clusters and availability of raw material.
An illustrative list of such products includes mango, potato, lichi, tomato, kinnu papad, pickle, millet-based products, fishery, poultry, meat as well as animal feed among others.
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As announced by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the Ministry has formally launched an extension of operation Greens from TOP to all perishable fruits and vegetables (TOTAL). The objective of the intervention is to protect the growers of fruits and vegetables from making distress sale due to lockdown and reduce the post-harvest losses.
This scheme will have the duration for six months from the date of notification. Eligible crops include mango, banana, guava, kiwi, lichi, papaya, pineapple, pomegranate, jackfruit, french beans, bitter gourd, brinjal, capsicum, carrot, cauliflower, green chillies, okra, onion, potato and tomato. Any other fruit and vegetable can be added in the future based on the recommendation by the Ministry of Agriculture for state government.
During the event, Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said that the unorganised food processing sector faces several challenges which limit the performance and growth. These challenges include lack of access to modern technology, and equipment training, lack of basic awareness on quality control and lack of branding and marketing. These new guidelines will help 9 lakh skilled and semi-skilled people.
Appreciating cold chain storages Badal claimed that the number of such units has increased and wastage of dairy and fishery products has reduced by 70%.
The Union Minister emphasised on the need for better cooperation and coordination between states and union government for better implementation and results of the schemes.
Harsimrat Kaur Badal also informed that the Ministry is planning to start free online skilling classes for SC and ST entrepreneurs in collaboration with NIFTEM.
"Ministry has identified 41 courses and job roles like baking, making jams, pickle, etc. for which access to digital content would be made available. Once certified these entrepreneurs would have better employment potential or can start their venture," She added.
MoS Rameshwar Teli and industry representatives were also present during the virtual launch event.
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