Page 25 - EDII Report 128

Harnessing Growth Opportunities in the

Food Processing Sector

One of the largest industries in India is the Food Processing. While the while opportunities
for growth are limitless, the sector already extends livelihood to scores of people.
Considering the need to enhance competitiveness, in 2020, the Prime Minister's
Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme was launched under
the Atmanirbhar Abhiyan. The scheme is focussed on enhancing prospects of micro-
enterprises in the unorganised food processing sector by promoting their formalisation. It
supports Farmer Producer Organisations, Self Help Groups, and Producers Cooperatives
using the One District One Product (ODOP) approach for economies of scale. While the
State Nodal Agency is Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation Limited, EDII is the 'State Project
Management Unit (SPMU)' for the State of Gujarat. EDII works across all districts of
Gujarat, on all the components of the scheme, including Subsidy Credit Linkages, Seed
Capital, Common Infrastructure, Marketing and Branding and Capacity Building of
Beneficiaries. Some significant activities undertaken over the last few months include the
following

A one day orientation programme was
o r g a n i z e d f o r S t a t e P r o j e c t
Management Unit (SPMU) of the Prime
Minister's Formalization of Micro Food
Processing Enterprises (PMFME)
scheme. The orientation was organized
in collaboration with Gujarat Agro
Industries Corporation Limited (GAICL)
on 3rd August 2024 at Ihub,
Ahmedabad. With active participation
from District Nodal Officers (DNOs),
District Resource Persons (DRPs), and
food processing industries, the
initiative facilitated knowledge
exchange and promoted the scheme's
benefits. The need for increased
outreach to bring more micro food
processing enterprises under the
scheme's purview across Gujarat, was
underlined. Over 150 stakeholders,
including dignitaries - Shri DH Shah,
MD, GAICL, and Shri CM Patel, Director,
Horticulture, attended the event.

On August 17, 2024, Krishi Vikas Kendra (KVK), Vraya, under Navsari Agricultural University,
organized an awareness programme on the Prime Minister Formalization of Micro Food
Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme. The event coincided with the celebration of
Honey Bee Day and saw active participation from 45 individuals.

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