Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala surpasses the target set by the centre of starting 2500 new small food processing units in a financial year. 2548 new ventures were started in the state. With this achievement, Kerala joins the ranks of three states that have successfully met the target.

Kerala has also exceeded the target of starting microbusinesses by self-help groups. As part of the rural livelihood mission, 3000 new businesses were to be launched, while 3087 units were started in the state under rural and 39 under urban livelihood missions.

Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Microfood Processing Enterprises (PMFME) is a scheme proposed by the central government to promote micro food processing ventures. Under the scheme, a subsidy up to Rs 1000000 will be provided by the government. 

In the financial year 2023-2024, 2548 loans have been sanctioned by the Kerala Bureau of Industrial Promotion under the Department of Industries & Commerce for starting private enterprises. 29 loans were also sanctioned to start group enterprises.

With this, Kerala has reached the third position in the ranking of micro food processing units in the country. The state received a subsidy of Rs 52 crore from the centre, and the state has allocated Rs 13 crore for the same.

As a part of the Rural Livelihood Mission, a scheme to promote micro food processing units by self-help groups was also proposed under the PMFME scheme. Kerala implemented this through Kudumbashree units. 3515 associations received aid through this scheme. Benefits up to Rs 40000 were allocated to members of the Kudumbashree unit.