New Delhi, Mar 14: A total of 389 micro food processing enterprises have been formalised in Jammu and Kashmir under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme (PMFME) since the launch of the programme, the government informed Parliament on Friday.
In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Ravneet Singh Bittu said that 59,202 micro food processing enterprises have been formalised across India under the scheme as of December 31, 2025, mobilising a cumulative investment of ₹17,015.8 crore nationwide.
Scheme aims to strengthen micro food enterprises
The PMFME scheme, implemented by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (India), aims to support micro food processing units by facilitating credit, formalisation, skill development, and improved market access.
According to official data, Maharashtra leads with 13,722 enterprises formalised, followed by Tamil Nadu (8,350), Madhya Pradesh (5,721), Kerala (5,139) and Bihar (4,938).
In the Union Territory of Ladakh, 25 enterprises have been formalised under the scheme.
Infrastructure and incubation support
The ministry also reported progress in setting up common infrastructure and incubation facilities to support small food processors.
As of December 31, 2025, 108 loans have been sanctioned for common infrastructure facilities, of which 88 loans have been disbursed, and 59 facilities have already become operational.
For incubation centres, 76 proposals from 24 states and Union Territories have been approved, with 23 centres commissioned so far.
Authorities said utilisation of these facilities is regularly reviewed through joint inspections conducted by State Nodal Agencies, mentor institutions, and host institutes.
Scheme generating employment
A third-party mid-term impact evaluation study conducted for the scheme found that PMFME has supported the creation of more than 2.8 lakh employment opportunities across the country.
The study also reported that beneficiaries have experienced an average increase in turnover of around 1.7 times after receiving support under the scheme.
More than 85 percent of credit-linked subsidy beneficiaries and around 80 percent of Self-Help Group members reported improved market access and stronger distribution networks.
Focus on market access and awareness
The ministry said it has been conducting national and state-level awareness campaigns through advertisements, exhibitions, buyer–seller meets, fairs and radio programmes to increase participation in the scheme.
Regular coordination meetings are also held with banks and state governments to increase credit flow and address challenges faced by micro food processing enterprises. The ministry is also facilitating participation of beneficiaries in national and international trade events and integrating them with e-commerce platforms to strengthen market linkages.
Officials said the PMFME scheme aims to boost the growth of the micro food processing sector through increased employment, higher turnover, stronger market networks and improved export potential.
