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The partnership will strengthen the exchange of scientific and technical information
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has signed an MoU with Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) recently in the presence of Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Food Processing Industries, to strengthen the activities of capacity development, exchange of scientific and technical information and need based research for one district one product initiatives and other products under the Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme.
Dr Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR) and Smt. Pushpa Subrahmanyam, Secretary, MoFPI signed the MoU.
The Prime Minister Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM FME) Scheme is being implemented by MoFPI under Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan to support micro-level food entrepreneurs, FPOs/SHGs/ Cooperatives. The scheme includes four major components for support to individuals and groups of micro-enterprises; branding and marketing, strengthening and setting up robust project management frameworks and development by incubation centers for common processing and training to entrepreneurs. The provision of seed capital of up to Rs.40000/- for working capital and purchase of tools to members of SHGs and others engaged in food processing is also provided.
ICAR with 103 research institutions, 11 Agriculture Technology Application Research Institutes (ATARIs) and 721 KVKs deals with crops, livestock, fisheries, natural resources management, agricultural mechanization, farmers outreach and higher agricultural education. The SHGs/ FPOs/ Cooperatives associated with ICAR Institutes and KVKs may be provided support under PMFME Scheme.