Kishtwar: The Department of Horticulture organized a one-day workshop and awareness camp at Padder to generate public awareness about the benefits and procedure of availing the benefits of the PMFME scheme.
The program witnessed the participation of more than 53 individuals, including farmers, members of Self Help Groups (SHGs), Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and aspiring entrepreneurs.
The event was held under the guidance of Chief Horticulture Officer (CHO) and District Nodal Officer for the PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme, Sajid Mustafa,
Notably, four farmers have already registered on the official portal for various food processing units, reflecting growing interest and proactive engagement with the scheme.
The District Nodal Officer interacted with the participants and highlighted the multiple opportunities available under the PMFME initiative, including financial assistance and capacity-building support. He also emphasized that both the Central and UT Governments are offering subsidies up to 35% to support farmers, SHGs, and unemployed youth under various schemes.
District Resource Person, PMFME Mohammad Yaqoob explained the procedure for availing the benefits of scheme, detailing steps such as the preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR), registration on the Udyam portal and acquiring FSSAI certification—the essential requirements for micro food enterprises.
Horticulture Development Officer Padder Neeraj Kumar shared insights on the Indian food processing industry with a special focus on the opportunities in Jammu and Kashmir. He underlined the immense potential of the PMFME scheme in promoting food processing and value addition in the Padder block.
The workshop concluded with a Q&A session, where participants clarified their queries and expressed interest in availing the benefits of the scheme.
