Seed money released to empower Nagaland SHGs in food processing

KOHIMA — The Food Processing Industries (FPI) division under the Directorate of Industries and Commerce, Nagaland, on Thursday released INR 6,90,30,946 to 3,797 self-help groups (SHGs), with 3,454 SHGs recommended by the Nagaland State Rural Livelihood Mission (NSRLM) and 343 by the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM).

This was done through a ‘Release of seed capital money to self-help groups’ programme in Kohima with Hekani Jakhalu, advisor, Industries and Commerce, presiding over the one-click disbursement event, in supporting micro food processing enterprises under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme.

The PMFME Scheme, a centrally sponsored initiative by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries,focuses on empowering SHG members engaged in food processing activities along their entire value chain.

In her address, Jakhalu emphasised the importance of inter-departmental collaboration, stressing the need for grassroots-level focus. She commended NSRLM and NULM for their work, acknowledging their role in empowering SHGs over the years.

The event was chaired by P Tokugha Achumi, additional director of Industries and Commerce, with A Temjen Jamir, director of Industries and Commerce, highlighting the department’s collaboration with Rural Development (RD)-NULM and Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana (DAY)-NULM to support SHGs in the food processing industry.

The collaboration aims to provide continuous monitoring, support, and assistance to the SHGs.

M Rollan Lotha, chief operating officer, RD-NSRLM, and Kiniholi Kinimi, state mission director, DAY-NULM, expressed appreciation for the department’s support through convergence, outlining how the seed money addresses critical needs for the SHGs.

Mhasiphizo Khezhie, the department’s nodal officer for the scheme, announced plans to provide SHG beneficiaries with training programmes and to work with them to secure credit-linked subsidies for the establishment of microfood processing enterprises under the PMFME Scheme.