Mandya: District minister N Cheluvarayaswamy emphasised the potential of food processing enterprises in creating self-employment opportunities, especially for young farmers seeking sustainable livelihoods.The event aimed to raise awareness about the PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM-FME) scheme and was jointly conducted by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Karnataka State Agricultural Produce Processing and Export Corporation Ltd (KAPPEC), district administration, zilla panchayat, and the department of agriculture.The minister symbolically extracted oil using a wooden press, reinforcing the importance of indigenous food processing techniques. “Most families in the district own some land. Even with just an acre, integrated farming practices can yield significant results at lower costs,” he said, urging farmers to look beyond conventional cultivation. He noted that higher education should not be viewed as a pathway only to white-collar jobs, adding that the PM-FME scheme offers a practical alternative for self-employment. “Education gives us awareness, not necessarily a profession. Entrepreneurship, especially in food processing, can be just as rewarding,” he said.Cheluvarayaswamy highlighted that 6,000 food processing units are planned under the scheme, with financial support of up to Rs 15 lakh, including Rs 6 lakh from the Centre and Rs 9 lakh from the state as subsidy. He proudly noted that Mandya ranks second in the state in terms of availing loans and subsidies under this initiative. “With the right training and support, farmers can earn between Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh a month through food processing,” he said, citing examples of success in integrated farming.Referring to Karnataka’s performance, the minister added that Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan lauded the state’s agriculture department as being among the most effective in the country.Ramesh Bandisiddegowda, chairman of Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation and Srirangapatna MLA, said food processing was not new to Mandya. “Our ancestors engaged in it actively. Now, by processing and branding local produce, we can reclaim that tradition and boost rural incomes,” he said.Zilla Panchayat CEO KR Nandini said that while Mandya is agriculturally rich, farmer incomes remain low. “We need to diversify beyond paddy, sugarcane, and coconut. Crops like avocado (butter fruit) thrive here and have strong export potential,” she noted. She encouraged farmers to collaborate with horticulture and animal husbandry departments to adopt integrated farming and increase earnings. “Processed products command three to four times higher prices. If we tap into both domestic and global markets, the returns can be significant.” Highlighting the rising demand for ready-to-eat and value-added food, Nandini said this trend could be a game-changer for local farmers. “Value addition is the future. Food processing is not just about profits—it’s about creating employment and empowering rural families.” .
