Thiruvananthapuram, Aug. 25: Kerala today received the national award for the best-performing state in the medium category in the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme of the Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries.
Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department, Shri Minhaj Alam IAS, and Kerala Bureau of Industrial Promotion (K-BIP) Chief Executive Officer Shri Suraj S. jointly received the award from Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Shri Chirag Paswan at the PMFME Summit held at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi.
The State received the recognition for the comprehensive support extended to entrepreneurs in the micro food processing sector, including financial assistance, skill development and marketing support. Under the scheme, the State Industries Department through K-BIP has so far facilitated loans to 10,175 entrepreneurs, surpassing the Central Government’s target of 10,000 enterprises. A grant-in-aid subsidy amounting to Rs 195.04 crore has also been sanctioned to 7,529 beneficiaries.
As seed capital assistance for members of Self-Help Groups, Rs 19.60 crore has been disbursed to 6,297 members through Kudumbashree under the State Rural Livelihood Mission. An additional Rs 3.90 crore has been distributed to 1,060 members through the Urban Livelihood Mission.
A Common Incubation Centre is set up at the Agri Business Incubator of Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur, at a cost of Rs 2.75 crore and is also functioning successfully under the scheme. The facility has been established for the processing of rice, fruits, vegetables and spices.
The scheme is implemented with funding shared by the central and state governments in the ratio of 60:40. The Department of Industries and Commerce serves as the nodal department in Kerala, while K-BIP functions as the nodal agency.
