Chief Minister Mohan Yadav emphasized that entrepreneurs and farmers involved in food processing and horticulture should aim to double their activities and production capacity within the next five years. He assured that the state government is ready to offer comprehensive financial and technical support. Yadav highlighted that Madhya Pradesh, situated in the heart of the country, benefits from favorable conditions for horticulture and food processing, including a range of climates and protection from natural disasters.
The state boasts sufficient infrastructure, including transportation, electricity, water, roads, and storage facilities. The government is dedicated to fostering a conducive environment for investment and entrepreneurship, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision. Yadav made these remarks during his address at the one-day state-level buyer-seller conference for food processing producers, held at the Kushabhau Thackeray Auditorium, where he inaugurated the event by lighting the ceremonial lamp.
Yadav inaugurated the exhibition at the Kushabhau Thackeray Auditorium. He toured the exhibition, engaging with sellers and producers. A standout attraction was ice cream made from millet. As part of the "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" campaign, Yadav was presented with a "Sundarja" mango sapling. Additionally, he transferred Rs 28.35 crore to the accounts of 881 beneficiaries of the PMFME (Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises) scheme with a single click. Short films showcasing the success stories of entrepreneurs were also screened during the event. Tribal Affairs Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah, Social Justice and Disabled Welfare Minister Narayan Singh Kushwaha, and Additional Chief Secretary and Agriculture Production Commissioner SN Mishra were in attendance.
Yadav said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visionary leadership the country is advancing towards economic prosperity and positioning itself as the world's third-largest economy. He highlighted that the state has created a favorable environment for investment and industrial activities, with the Regional Industry Summit being organized to support and expand these efforts. The summit places special emphasis on food processing and agriculture, addressing challenges in setting-up units in these sectors as a priority. Yadav commended the innovative efforts of the state's young generation in this field.
In a discussion with Chief Minister Yadav, entrepreneurs Shraddha Khare of Gwalior and Rekha Sharma of Kurwai (Vidisha) said that a large number of local people have been employed in the food processing units run by them. They are also making available the state’s processed products in the cities of America. Sharma said that in Kurvai Vidisha, agriculture, and horticulture-related activities are also being conducted by her through tissue culture.
Tribal Affairs Minister . Kunwar Vijay Shah said that Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has taken the initiative to provide incentives to the people traditionally engaged in trade, business and industrial activities along with big industrialists by holding industrial summits at the regional level.
Social Justice and Disabled Welfare Minister Narayan Singh Kushwaha said that schemes that create more employment opportunities in the field of food processing and horticulture are being implemented on priority in the state. In this regard, innovations made in other states will also be followed. Referring to the award received by the state in food processing recently in New Delhi, he said that work on hi-tech nurseries is going on in the state. Along with this, a testing lab will also be established in the Bhopal division. Often, farmers suffer losses due to excessive production of tomatoes and other crops. Our effort is to develop a system for processing such crops at the local level, which will save farmers from the loss of their hard work and cost. Additional Chief Secretary and Agriculture Production Commissioner S.N. Mishra also expressed his views at the conference.
Notably the conference was organized to give national and international recognition to the products and horticulture materials manufactured in the micro food processing enterprises of the state, to provide a common platform to buyers and sellers, to provide information to interested farmers about advanced technology, possibilities in the processing sector, market linkage and to give guidance regarding government schemes. Along with a demonstration of advanced machines, information regarding branding, marketing and export possibilities of products was also made available at the conference.
