AP Govt Links PMFME Scheme With Stree Nidhi to Empower DWACRA Women

The Andhra Pradesh government has linked the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme with the Stree Nidhi Credit Cooperative Federation Ltd to help DWACRA women set up small food-processing businesses in rural areas.

Minister for MSME, Rural Poverty Alleviation and Non-Resident Telugu Empowerment Kondapalli Srinivas said the initiative is aimed at moving women beyond seeking employment and enabling them to become entrepreneurs who can create jobs for others.

Under the initiative, eligible DWACRA women can establish food-processing units with a project cost of up to Rs 3 lakh, using loans provided through Stree Nidhi. The beneficiaries will also be eligible for the credit-linked subsidy available under the PMFME scheme, the minister said.

The programme will support units that add value to locally available agricultural and food products. Potential activities include fruit and vegetable processing, millet-based products, pulses, spices, pickles, flour products and snacks, among others. The focus is on encouraging women to build businesses around resources and products available in their own regions.

The government will identify women with the interest and potential to take up food-processing enterprises through district-level federations, which will function as District Resource Organisations for the programme.

Support will extend beyond financing. Selected beneficiaries will receive assistance in areas such as raw material procurement, packaging, branding and marketing, with the government intending to provide continued support until their enterprises become sustainable.

Srinivas said the initiative reflects Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s vision of creating at least one entrepreneur in every family and strengthening rural livelihoods through women-led enterprises.

The minister urged eligible DWACRA members to make use of the opportunity to build sustainable businesses, achieve greater financial independence and eventually generate employment for other members of their communities.

The government expects the convergence of PMFME and Stree Nidhi to strengthen the rural food-processing ecosystem while creating new avenues for women-led micro enterprises across Andhra Pradesh.