**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer to Unstarred Question No. 2165 in Lok Sabha, answered on February 12, 2026, regarding efforts for entrepreneurship promotion initiatives in the food processing industry, specifically in the Amroha district of Uttar Pradesh. The document details the government's assessment and efforts to promote food processing-based entrepreneurship through the PM Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **PMFME Scheme Overview:**
* The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) is implementing the centrally sponsored PMFME Scheme.
* The scheme aims to provide financial, technical, and business support for new and upgraded micro food processing enterprises across the country.
* It focuses on entrepreneurship, skill development, and employment generation, especially for women's groups and youth.
* **Financial Assistance:**
* Credit-linked grant of 35% of the eligible project cost, with seed capital up to Rs. 40,000 available.
* Capacity building and branding/marketing support for interested applicants.
* **Capacity Building Component:**
* Food Processing Entrepreneurship Development Program Training available for individuals and groups like SHGs, FPOs, and Cooperatives.
* Training modules on Entrepreneurship Development Program (EDP), One District One Product (ODOP), and Food Processing Domain.
* **Amroha District Specifics:**
* Loans sanctioned for 142 micro food processing enterprises in Amroha.
* 147 beneficiaries have been trained in Amroha.
* Scheme has facilitated the generation of 426 direct and indirect employment opportunities in the district.
* **Awareness Initiatives:**
* The Ministry undertakes national and state-level awareness campaigns (newspaper ads, radio jingles, exhibitions, social media) to promote the scheme.
* **Annexure Details of Financial Assistance:**
* **Individual/Group Micro Enterprises:** Credit-linked capital subsidy at 35% (max Rs. 10 lakh per unit).
* **SHGs:** Seed capital @ Rs. 40,000 per member (max Rs. 4 lakh per SHG Federation).
* **Common Infrastructure:** Credit-linked capital subsidy @35% (max Rs. 3 crore).
* **Branding & Marketing Support:** Grant up to 50%.
* **Capacity Building:** Training programs modified for food processing and product-specific skilling.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** Micro Food Processing Enterprises and Aspiring Entrepreneurs
**Impact:** Access to financial assistance (credit-linked grants, seed capital), training, and support for branding/marketing, enabling business setup and growth.
**Action Required:** Familiarise with scheme guidelines, apply for financial assistance, and participate in training programs.
**Stakeholder:** Women's Groups and Youth in Uttar Pradesh (including Amroha)
**Impact:** Opportunities for skill development and entrepreneurship in the food processing sector, leading to employment generation and economic empowerment.
**Action Required:** Participate in training programs and explore opportunities to establish or upgrade micro food processing enterprises.
**Stakeholder:** Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Cooperatives
**Impact:** Access to financial assistance for setting up common infrastructure and receiving support for branding and marketing.
**Action Required:** Develop proposals for setting up common infrastructure and explore opportunities for branding/marketing support.
Key Entities Referenced
PM Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme: A centrally sponsored scheme providing financial, technical, and business support for setting up or upgrading micro food processing enterprises in India.
Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI): The Indian government ministry responsible for implementing the PMFME scheme and other initiatives related to the food processing sector.
Uttar Pradesh: The Indian state where the impact of the PMFME scheme is being assessed, specifically within the Amroha district.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2165
ANSWERED 12TH FEBRUARY, 2026
EFFORTS FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROMOTION INITIATIVES
2165. SHRI KANWAR SINGH TANWAR:
Will the Minister of FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has assessed the need to promote food processing-based
entrepreneurship and skills-oriented training in Amroha district of Uttar Pradesh with the
objective of strengthening local enterprises and generating employment by encouraging
entrepreneurship development and training programme for women's groups and youth in
Amroha, Hasanpur, Dhanaura, Joya, Naugawan Sadat and Mandawar;
(b) if so, the details of the efforts made for entrepreneurship promotion initiatives, training modules,
credit linkage facilities and district-level outreach in the said district; and
(c) if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
(SHRI RAVNEET SINGH)
(a) to (c): Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) is implementing a centrally sponsored "PM
Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme" for providing financial, technical
and business support for setting up of new/ upgradation of micro food processing enterprises in the country.
The Scheme is aimed at promoting food processing-based entrepreneurship, skill development and
employment generation, including for women’s groups and youth, in all districts of Uttar Pradesh, including
Amroha district.
The scheme provides support of credit-linked grant of 35% of the eligible project cost, seed capital of up
to Rs. 40,000, capacity building for beneficiaries and branding & marketing for all the interested applicants
as per the scheme guidelines and eligibility. The details of financial assistance eligible for micro food
processing enterprises under the Scheme are at Annexure.
The Capacity Building component of the PMFME Scheme envisages Food Processing Entrepreneurship
Development Program Training for all applicants viz individuals and Groups namely Self Help Groups
(SHG) / Farmer Producer Organisations (FPO)/ Cooperatives for availing credit linked grant recommended
by District Level Committee (DLC) and also training to Self Help Group (SHG) beneficiaries of Seed
Capital engaged in micro food processing. 779 training modules on Entrepreneurship Development Program
(EDP), One District One Product (ODOP) and Food Processing Domain have been prepared which include
199 Presentations, 192 Videos, 190 Detailed Project Report (DPRs) and 198 Course Content/Handbooks.
For the Amroha district of Uttar Pradesh, loans for 142 micro food processing enterprises have been
sanctioned under the Credit Linked Subsidy component of the scheme. 147 beneficiaries have been trained
and the Scheme has facilitated generation of 426 direct and indirect employment opportunities in the district.
Ministry has taken various initiatives / measures to increase the scheme’s uptake and to create awareness
among the various stakeholders and public at large through National & State level awareness campaigns
such as Newspaper advertisements, Radio Jingles, Exhibitions & Expos, Fairs, Buyer-Seller Meets and
various social media platforms etc. since the inception of the scheme.
*****ANNEXURE
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (c) OF THE LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2165 FOR ANSWER ON 12.02.2026 REGARDING “EFFORTS
FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROMOTION INITIATIVES”
The details of financial assistance available under Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food
Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme are as under:
(i). Support to Individual / Group Category Micro Enterprises: Credit-linked capital subsidy
@35% of the eligible project cost, maximum ceiling Rs.10 lakh per unit;
(ii). Support to SHGs for seed capital: Seed capital @ Rs. 40,000/- per member of SHG engaged
in food processing for working capital and purchase of small tools subject to maximum of Rs. 4
lakh per SHG Federation.
(iii). Support for Common Infrastructure: Credit linked capital subsidy @35% subject to
maximum of Rs. 3 crore to support FPOs, SHGs, Cooperatives and any Government agency for
setting up of common infrastructure. The common infrastructure will also be available for other
units and public to utilize on hiring basis for substantial part of the capacity.
(iv). Branding and Marketing Support: Grant upto 50% for Branding and Marketing to groups
of FPOs/ SHGs/ Cooperatives or an SPV of micro food processing enterprises.
(v). Capacity Building: The scheme envisages training for Entrepreneurship Development
Program (EDP) modified to meet the requirement of food processing industry and product
specific skilling.
*****