Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh is emerging as a major food-processing hub, with the state’s Food Processing Industry Policy-2023 giving fresh momentum to investment, employment, exports and value addition to agricultural produce. The policy also seeks to increase farmers’ incomes while creating opportunities for entrepreneurs and start-ups.
The 22nd meeting of the State Level Empowered Committee (SLEC) constituted under the Uttar Pradesh Food Processing Industry Policy-2023 was held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Agriculture Production Commissioner and SLEC Chairman Deepak Kumar at the Agriculture Production Commissioner’s office.
The committee reviewed the latest progress under the policy, new investment proposals, financial incentives and various matters concerning entrepreneurs. As of September 15, 2026, a total of 1,975 applications had been received under the policy, of which 580 proposals had been approved and Letters of Comfort (LOCs) issued. During 2026-27, 291 new applications were received up to September 29. Against approved proposals, Rs 132.61 crore had been disbursed in the first and second instalments.
The committee considered and approved all 51 new proposals placed before it. These covered frozen fruit and vegetable processing, cattle feed, dehydrated fruits and vegetables, sweets, namkeen, 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 involving solar-based processing units, including those promoted by women entrepreneur groups, were also approved. These included ready-to-cook foods, flour, spices, pulse and rice mills, soy products, breadcrumbs, fruit juice, canned fruits and vegetables and jaggery-based units.
The meeting also reviewed the progress of the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme. So far, loans have been sanctioned for setting up 28,356 units in Uttar Pradesh, while 24,883 units have received subsidies totalling Rs 1,040 crore. In 2025-26, the state ranked first nationally in terms of loans sanctioned for 8,296 units. During the current financial year, loans for 3,198 units have already been sanctioned, while Rs 271 crore in subsidies has been distributed to 7,643 beneficiary entrepreneurs.
The committee also discussed timely implementation of projects and measures to further promote investment and value addition in food processing.
For outstanding work in implementing food processing schemes, Udyami Mitra Ishani Srivastava of Bareilly, Udyami Mitra Neha Singh of Sitapur and Anshil Sinha, Junior Assistant at the Government Food Processing Centre, Bareilly, were honoured with certificates of appreciation and mementoes.
