Union Food Processing Industries Minister Chirag Paswan on Saturday hailed the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme after it crossed the landmark of sanctioning loans to more than two lakh micro food processing enterprises, calling it a major step towards strengthening grassroots entrepreneurship and building a self-reliant India.
Speaking at a special event in New Delhi to commemorate the achievement, Paswan said the milestone demonstrates that the government’s vision of promoting micro enterprises is translating into tangible outcomes across the country.
According to the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), the scheme has leveraged project investments exceeding ₹20,300 crore while generating nearly 11 lakh direct and indirect employment opportunities. Nearly 90 per cent of the beneficiaries are first-generation entrepreneurs, 44 per cent are women, and more than 75,000 PMFME-supported enterprises have entered the formal economy through registrations under Udyam Aadhaar, Udyam Assist, FSSAI and GST.
The event was attended by senior ministry officials, representatives from state governments, banking institutions, development partners, entrepreneurs, Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs). It featured the release of publications showcasing the scheme’s achievements, presentations by successful entrepreneurs and interactions between the minister and PMFME beneficiaries.
Addressing the gathering, Paswan described the high participation of women entrepreneurs as a reflection of the government’s vision of women-led development.
“The achievement of two lakh beneficiaries demonstrates that this vision is translating into measurable outcomes across the country,” he said, adding that the participation of women entrepreneurs, who account for nearly 44 per cent of all beneficiaries, reflects “the true spirit of women-led development, a cornerstone of Viksit Bharat.”
The minister commended the performance of leading states, including Bihar, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh, for effectively implementing the scheme. He said the milestone was not merely an achievement to celebrate but “a strong foundation upon which we will build the next phase of India’s food processing growth story.”
Paswan also appreciated state governments, district administrations and field functionaries for transforming “a national policy into a grassroots movement for enterprise development.”
Highlighting other achievements under the scheme, the minister said more than 4.18 lakh Self-Help Group members have benefited from Seed Capital support, while 80 Common Incubation Centres have been approved across 27 states and Union Territories, of which 32 are already operational. He added that over 1.76 lakh beneficiaries have received training under the scheme, with women accounting for nearly 77 per cent of those trained.
During the event, Paswan felicitated the scheme’s beneficiary number two lakh, Inderjeet Singh from Ranchi, Jharkhand, and handed over the loan sanction letter and a certificate.
In his welcome address, MoFPI Joint Secretary Devesh Deval announced the launch of a nationwide multimedia awareness campaign and said the PMFME scheme provides end-to-end support to entrepreneurs, including financial assistance, training, branding, marketing and market linkages.
“PMFME is not merely supporting enterprises – it is transforming livelihoods, strengthening local value chains and creating sustainable employment opportunities across the country,” he said.
Food Processing Secretary A.P. Das Joshi described the achievement as evidence of a stronger ecosystem for the micro food processing sector, saying the scheme integrates finance, formalisation, technology, capacity building and market access into a comprehensive enterprise development model.
The Ministry also highlighted the scheme’s One District One Product (ODOP) initiative, under which 40 common brands covering nearly 200 products have been supported, helping strengthen local value chains for products such as makhana, millets, spices and various GI-tagged products across the country.
The Ministry said the achievement of more than two lakh credit-linked beneficiaries marks a significant milestone in the government’s efforts to formalise and strengthen the micro food processing sector while advancing the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047.
