District Level Committee on PM- FME approves 8 DPRs in Kathua

Kathua: District Level Committee on Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) today approved 8 DPRs at its meeting held here under the chairmanship of District Development Commissioner, O P Bhagat.

The Centrally Sponsored PM Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises Scheme (PM FME Scheme) envisages provision of financial, technical and business support for establishment and upgradation of existing micro food processing enterprises.

Chief Agriculture Officer, Vijay Upadhaya gave a detailed presentation on PM FME whereas DDM NABARD, Amit Kumar elaborated on Agri Infrastructure Fund.

The DLC approved 8 projects, while the meeting was informed that 3 more projects are in pipeline.

It was also informed in the meeting that individual Micro Food Processing unit shall be provided back ended subsidy @ 35% of the eligible Project cost with a maximum ceiling of Rs. 10.00 lakh per unit with provision of interest subvention @ 3%.

The beneficiary has to contribute a minimum of 10% of the Project cost, while the balance would be provided by banks as loan. Collateral free loan up to Rs. 2 crore for Micro and Small Enterprises is also provisioned.

The DDC exhorted the line Departments to take the scheme to grassroots level by organizing awareness camps at Panchayat level. To check Monkey menace, it was suggested to identify contiguous plot for raising lemon grass and tie up with IIIM for planting material and extracting unit.

Pertinently under PM FME, a target of 11 Micro Food Processing Enterprises has been set by the Government for the quarter ending 2020-21 for District Kathua.

The Department of Agriculture Production & Farmers Welfare, Horticulture Department & Horticulture Planning & Marketing have been entrusted to enlist Micro Food Enterprises in unorganized sector for promotion, branding and marketing. Kathua District has been chosen as ‘Spice District’ under One District One Product (ODOP).