KULGAM: An awareness programme was today organized by Agriculture Production & Farmers Welfare department at Rest House Chawalgam, here to educate the farmers and unemployed youth of block Kulgam and Behibhag regarding benefits of PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM-FME) ODOP scheme.
The camp was inaugurated by the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kulgam, Dr.Bilal Ahmad Bhat who urged the youth to come forward and become job providers instead of job seekers and increase the employment opportunities in the district besides increasing income of the farmers by value addition of the food.
Chief Agriculture Officer, Sartaj Ahmad Shah, District Agriculture officer, Area Marketing Officer SDAO, Subject Matter Specialist (DL), Agriculture Extension Officers, concerned JAEOs and field functionaries besides representatives of allied departments, PRI members, SHG members, farmers including women & youth attended the program.
District Nodal officer discussed in detail all the facets of the scheme and enjoined upon the youth to set up micro food processing units to generate employment in the food processing sector to sustain their livelihood.
The District Agriculture officer elaborated the eligibility and terms of subsidy, interest and other related details of the scheme.
Officers from agriculture and allied departments addressed the participants and elaborated the steps involved in the process for availing the benefits of the scheme and encouraged the youth to come forward for the same.
Mentioning Spices and Pickles as One District One Product (ODOP) of Kulgam district, resource person from Agriculture department urged for expansion of Spices (Garlic, Lal Mirch) cultivation and its trade by establishing Spices and Pickle food product units under the scheme.
Lead District Manager (LDM), Kulgam also assured to provide required assistance and support in availing benefits PM-FME scheme.
Unemployed educated youth, Self Help Groups, and many farmers from both the blocks of Kulgam and Behibhag showed their interest to establish micro food processing units under the PM-FME scheme and were registered in the said scheme on the spot.