District In-charge Minister Satish Jarkiholi has encouraged the public to establish small food processing units locally, leveraging subsidy schemes provided by both the central and state governments, to achieve financial independence.
Speaking at the district-level awareness programme on the Prime Minister’s Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme, held at the KPTCL Bhavan in Shivabasava Nagar on Tuesday, he highlighted the available financial support. “The central government is offering subsidies up to ₹9 lakh and the state government up to ₹6 lakh, amounting to a total subsidy of ₹15 lakh, for setting up small food processing enterprises. If the project cost is below ₹30 lakh, a 50% subsidy is available. Beneficiaries should also make use of loan facilities from banks to establish businesses,” he explained.
“So far, a total subsidy of ₹21.65 crore has been disbursed to 633 beneficiaries in the district,” he added.
Minister Jarkiholi emphasized that this is a golden opportunity for individuals to apply their skills and start small ventures. “You don’t need to go to Bangalore or abroad for employment. Start a viable business in your village itself. The government will support it,” he said.
He encouraged people to draw inspiration from today’s successful entrepreneurs who began with small businesses. “Make your own products at home, brand them, and bring them to market. Under this scheme, you can open a flour mill, produce bakery items, spices, chapatis, or process honey,” he noted.
“We must aim for leadership in the food industry. Those who prioritize quality and build customer trust will thrive. Through this scheme, around 1,500 people in the district will be able to start small enterprises annually,” he stated.
The programme was inaugurated by C.N. Shivaprakash, Managing Director of the Kerala State Agricultural Produce Processing and Export Corporation (KPEC), who delivered the introductory address. Zilla Panchayat CEO Rahul Shinde and Joint Director of Agriculture H.D. Kolekar were also present. Products made under the PMFME scheme were displayed, and information about required documents and bank loans was shared.
