Garlic, ginger growers to benefit from Central scheme

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, January 4

Food processing units engaged in mushroom, garlic and ginger processing will benefit from the Centrally sponsored Prime Minister Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM FME) scheme in Solan and Sirmaur districts.

These crops have been selected under the ‘One District, One Product’ initiative of the Centre. Aimed at enhancing competitiveness of existing micro-enterprises in the unorganised food processing industry, it is a key initiative of the Aatmnirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. With an Outlay of Rs 10,000 crore, the scheme will cover 2,00,000 enterprises across the nation.

GS Chauhan, member secretary, Industries Department, Sirmaur, said , “There were about six cooperative societies, two farmer producer organisations and 20 self-help groups (SHGs) engaged in the processing of ginger and garlic in Sirmaur district. About 500 people will benefit from the scheme for which groundwork has already begun.”

Terming it a major boost to food processing industries, Commissioner, Industries, Hansraj Sharma said the scheme provideed seed capital to SHGs at the rate of Rs 4 lakh per SHG for loan to members for working capital and small tools. It also provides grant for backward/ forward linkages, skill training and handholding support for detailed project reports, technical upgrade, credit-linked capital subsidy, etc. Solan, which was acclaimed as the mushroom city of the country, will also receive a boost from this scheme.

Notably, 3,734 hectares was under garlic production in Sirmaur and 57,205 metric tonnes of crop had been produced in 2019-2020. An area of 1,500 hectare was under ginger production in the district and 16,650 metric tonnes crop had been produced in 2019-2020.

Processing of cash crops like ginger, garlic and mushroom will not only raise the economy of the entrepreneurs but also help avert post-harvest wastage.

Hansraj Sharma said, “Entrepreneurs in apple-growing districts like Shimla, Kinnaur and Chamba will focus on apple, while in Kullu district, apple wine-based enterprises will receive a boost. In Hamirpur, milk producers will be benefitted, while in Una district potatoes growers will reap its benefits. In the tribal district of Lahaul-Spiti, the growers of sea buckthorn will receive a major push. In Kangra district, citrus fruit growers like orange stand to benefit from it, while in Bilaspur turmeric growers will reap its benefits as food processing units will be set up.”