Bhubaneswar: The State-Level Approval Committee meeting on the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme was held on Tuesday at Lok Seva Bhavan under the chairpersonship of Chief Secretary Anu Garg.
In a major boost to the food processing sector, the Centre has extended the PMFME scheme till 2025-26. The scheme was earlier scheduled to end in 2024-25. The extension will allow more micro food processing units in Odisha to avail of financial and technical support.
The scheme aims to bring unorganised food processing units into the formal sector, according to a government release. Entrepreneurs receive credit-linked subsidies, technical support, and assistance for FSSAI licence, Udyam registration, and GST registration. The funding is shared between the Centre and the State in a 60:40 ratio.
Under the scheme, individual entrepreneurs can get a 35% subsidy of up to Rs 10 lakh for setting up new units or upgrading existing ones. SHG members are eligible for seed capital support of up to Rs 40,000. Assistance of up to ₹4 lakh is also provided to Self-Help Groups. Grants are available for common infrastructure such as cold storage, processing centres, and laboratories.
So far, 31,244 SHG members have benefited in Odisha. A total of 11,517 beneficiaries have received training. Around 3,437 units have been sanctioned with credit-linked subsidies.
Odisha has also recorded strong progress at the national level. The fund utilisation rate stands at 94.20%, reflecting effective implementation. The average loan size in the state is Rs 8.25 lakh, which is higher than the national average.
Among key initiatives, a fish processing incubation centre has been set up at Rangeilunda in Ganjam district in collaboration with OUAT. Support has also been extended to a mini food processing unit in the Mayurbhanj district.
Garg stressed better convergence among departments. She said coordinated efforts will help women SHGs grow into micro entrepreneurs and encourage youth to take up food processing ventures.
