SHG women and rural youth to be encouraged to set up small processing units; officials asked to expedite training, financial assistance and subsidies
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya has directed officials to promote food processing enterprises in rural areas to generate employment, improve farmers’ incomes and prevent wastage of agricultural produce.
During a review of the Rural Development Department and related initiatives, Maurya instructed officials to encourage women associated with self-help groups (SHGs), particularly rural women, to establish small food processing units. He emphasised that food processing offers significant employment opportunities and can ensure better returns for farmers by adding value to their produce.
He directed the Food Processing Department and the State Rural Livelihood Mission to jointly prepare a standard operating procedure (SOP) to facilitate women in setting up processing units. Both departments have also been asked to nominate nodal officers to coordinate the initiative.
Under the Chief Minister’s Food Processing Village Self-Employment Scheme, training programmes are already being conducted. Maurya asked officials to prepare a coordinated training calendar for women and involve public representatives in these programmes. Rural women and young people should receive detailed information about government schemes and complete support in establishing small enterprises.
The Deputy Chief Minister also directed the State Institute of Rural Development to develop the capacity to train at least one lakh participants every month across the state and districts. A time-bound training calendar should be issued, biometric attendance ensured and training quality closely monitored.
He further instructed officials to complete the construction of newly approved training centre buildings on schedule and resolve implementation-related issues through coordination among departments.
Reviewing financial matters, Maurya stressed timely payments against pending liabilities and proper utilisation of available budgets, warning that no funds should lapse. He also called for accelerating ongoing development works.
Regarding financial incentives, he directed officials to release eligible subsidies under the Uttar Pradesh Food Processing Industry Policy 2023 and the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme after completing the prescribed formalities. He stressed that there should be no unnecessary delay in subsidy disbursement.
Maurya said promoting small food processing enterprises would create sustainable livelihood opportunities in villages, strengthen women’s economic independence and ensure better utilisation of farmers’ produce.
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