Jammu, Jan 25:  According to a press statement, the Principal Secretary, Horticulture, Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare Department, Navin K Choudhary, today conducted review meetings to assess progress on Prime Minister’s Formalization of Micro Food Enterprises (PMFME) scheme besides taking stock of disbursal of Agriculture Infrastructure Development Fund (AIDF).

During the meeting, it was said that under the PM FME, 17 new and 14 upgradation projects have been identified by the Horticulture Department Jammu, while these projects for Horticulture Department Kashmir stand at 19 and 10 respectively. In addition, Agriculture Department Jammu has identified 50 new and 15 up gradation projects while their counterparts from Kashmir have identified five and 40 projects respectively. The Horticulture P&M J&K has taken up 59 new projects while 57 existing projects have been identified for upgrade.

Choudhary stressed that the purview of ‘One District One Product’ could be relaxed in case any entrepreneur from adjoining districts also wanted to collaborate with the others to boost production and marketing of any of the identified products. He also directed the directors of agriculture and horticulture departments to identify two ‘Master Trainers’ each, for both regions of the Union Territory.

The Principal Secretary asked for holding a district level meeting between the Deputy Commissioners, Area Marketing Officers and respective officers within the next three days. He also directed prompt uploading of well formatted project reports and directed HoDs to form a three-member committee to go through each project report and cross check all details therein.

The statement further said that the Principal Secretary stressed that the schemes have been formulated for promotion of food processing and allied activities and asked the departments to highlight the schemes through the media. He also called for setting up cold storages and milk chilling plants in Jammu region.

Meanwhile, setting up of new infrastructure and transfer of existing infrastructure between various departments and government bodies was also discussed in the meeting.

The Principal Secretary also took stock of upcoming incubation centers, two each at Jammu and Kashmir regions, for the benefit of upcoming enterprises.

The statement added that the PM FME is aimed at establishing Micro Food Processing Industries at Micro/Village level through individuals, Self Help Groups (SHGs), Cooperatives and Farmers Producers Organizations (FPOs). Under the programme, 35 per cent subsidy/capital support with a ceiling of Rs 10 lakh is being provided to the beneficiaries. The Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India has indicated a target of 1537 units under ODOP for a period of five years for J&K.

Later, the Principal Secretary had a detailed review regarding disbursal of loans under AIDF which has been approved by the central government to facilitate formal credit to farm and farm processing- based activities which in return will create several job opportunities in rural areas.

Registrar J&K Cooperatives Societies Jammu; Director Agriculture Jammu, Director Horticulture Jammu; Director Horticulture P&M, J&K; Mission Director, JKHPMC Limited; Deputy General Manager NABARD besides Chief Agriculture Officers, Chief Horticulture Officers and various senior officers participated in the meeting while their counterparts from Kashmir participated through video conference.