PMFME scheme lending impetus to rural entrepreneurship, say officials

The district-level awareness programme on the Prime Minister’s Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme held in Mysuru on Thursday, indicated that the expansion of ‘one district one product’ to include multiple products per district, has given an impetus to rural entrepreneurship.

The programme was organised by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Karnataka State Agricultural Produce Processing & Export Corporation Limited (KAPPEC), the district administration, zilla panchayat, and the Department of Agriculture.

Officials said that awareness initiatives like these are crucial in encouraging more people to become entrepreneurs under the PMFME scheme.

K.H. Ravi, Joint Director of Agriculture, said that the change to include multiple products per district under Atmanirbhar Bharat has spurred the growth of several food processing units across the region as product diversification has opened new avenues for local industries.

“In five years, 131 entrepreneurs had taken up initiatives under the scheme in Mysuru. But within 15 days of the launch of the awareness programme in the region, as many as 102 applications were received and they are now being linked with banks for loan approvals,” Mr. Ravi added.

The proposals cover a wide range of processing activities and include 22 flour mills, 10 coconut-based units, 9 millet products, 6 oilseeds, 10 bakery units, and 2 each for fish, ginger, jaggery, pickles, and rice products.

Officials pointed out that the variety reflects the potential of agriculture-linked enterprises to generate employment and reduce migration from villages to towns.

KAPPEC Managing Director C.N. Shivaprakash observed that both State and Central subsidies should be effectively utilised. “Processing units based on locally available raw materials can ensure sustainability, while generating jobs,” he added.

 The PMFME scheme currently extends up to 50% support — ₹15 lakh as subsidy and ₹15 lakh as bank loan — to set up such ventures.

Pushpa Amarnath, vice-president, Karnataka State Guarantee Schemes Implementation Authority, highlighted the importance of rural industries in reducing migration from rural areas to urban centres.

“People leave villages for jobs in cities because there are few opportunities locally. Many women prepare products in rural households, but these often fail to reach the market. If proper marketing networks are created, it will strengthen household incomes and reduce migration pressures,” she said.

Successful beneficiaries also shared their experiences, including Mohan Kumar, who spoke about his millet and oilseed processing unit, and Shruti Giridhar, who spoke about her jaggery production enterprise. These were showcased as examples of how small ventures can evolve into sustainable livelihoods with institutional support.

Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy, zilla panchayat CEO S. Yukesh Kumar, Mysuru City Corporation Commissioner Sheikh Tanveer Asif, Zilla Krishi Samaja president Kalmalli Shivakumar, Mysuru Chamber of Commerce and Industry president K.B. Lingaraju, Lead Bank Manager N.P. Krishnamurthy, were among those present.