Lucknow: The 22nd meeting of the State Level Empowered Committee (SLEC) constituted under the Uttar Pradesh Food Processing Industry Policy-2023 was held under the chairmanship of Deepak Kumar, Agriculture Production Commissioner, Uttar Pradesh Government.
The meeting reviewed the latest progress under the policy, new investment proposals, financial incentives and various matters concerning food processing entrepreneurs. The policy aims to attract investment, generate employment, promote exports and increase farmers’ incomes by encouraging value addition to agricultural produce.
According to the progress report presented at the meeting, 1,975 applications had been received under the policy as of September 15, 2026, of which 580 proposals had been approved and Letters of Comfort issued. During the financial year 2026-27, 291 new applications had been received up to September 29. A total of ₹132.61 crore had been released as first and second instalments against approved projects.
The committee considered 51 new proposals and approved all of them. The projects cover a wide range of activities, including frozen fruit and vegetable processing, cattle feed, dehydrated fruits and vegetables, sweets, savouries, bakery and ice cream products, frozen ready-to-eat foods, potato flakes, soy products, dairy and milk products, pulses and flour processing, edible oil, solar-powered food processing units and other value-added food products.
Several proposals involve solar energy-based food processing plants, including units promoted by women entrepreneur groups. These include ready-to-cook foods, flour, spices, pulse and rice mills, soy products, breadcrumbs, fruit juice, canned fruits and vegetables, and jaggery-based products.
The committee also reviewed the progress of the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme. So far, loans have been sanctioned for the establishment of 28,356 units, while subsidy of ₹1,040 crore has been disbursed to 24,883 units.
During 2025-26, Uttar Pradesh ranked first nationally in the number of units for which loans were sanctioned, with 8,296 units receiving approval. In the current financial year, loans have already been sanctioned for 3,198 units, while ₹271 crore in subsidy has been distributed to 7,643 beneficiary entrepreneurs.
The committee also discussed timely disposal of projects, effective implementation of the policy and measures to accelerate investment and value addition in the food processing sector.
During the meeting, Ishani Srivastava, Udyami Mitra, Bareilly; Neha Singh, Udyami Mitra, Sitapur; and Anshil Sinha, Junior Assistant, Government Food Processing Centre, Bareilly, were honoured with certificates of appreciation and mementoes for their outstanding contribution to the effective implementation of food processing schemes.
The state government said continued efforts are being made to strengthen Uttar Pradesh’s agriculture-based economy, enhance the value of farmers’ produce and expand investment and employment opportunities in the food processing sector.
