Keeping focus of ‘One District One Product’ (ODOP) under PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme, a component of Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan (ABA) on micro food processing industries in Jammu & Kashmir is undoubtedly an attempt to generate new job opportunities in the horticulture sector. Due to increasing productivity in apple, cherries and walnuts the horticulture sector holds a central place in the economic scenario of Jammu & Kashmir since last several decades. Now in the fast changing economic scenario Jammu & Kashmir Government has embarked on a plan to incentivise micro food processing units which are mostly connected with the growth and expansion of Kashmir’s horticulture sector. “One district One Product “(ODOP) if implemented the way it has been designed for the growth and expansion of both agriculture and horticulture sectors would give a boost to both agriculture farming and as well as horticulture industry in Jammu & Kashmir. Implemention of ODOP scheme won’t only boost food processing business but it would consequently generate more employment opportunities for the youth in Jammu & Kashmir and as such would also facilitate holistic socio-economic growth besides encouraging investment in the food processing business. Since ‘One District One Product’ (ODOP) under PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme, a component of Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan (ABA) is being implemented with 60% central funding and 40% funding from J&K Government, the policy could not only strengthen unorganized micro food processing units but would also subsequently promote formalization of the sector under the said scheme. Since the Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare department has identified district-wise priority agriculture produce for development under Micro Food Processing Enterprise scheme with special focus on Basmati Rice, Saffron, Apple, Walnut, Maize, Organic Vegetables, Mushroom, Lavender, Trout and Rajmh, the farmers associated with the agriculture sector too have greater chances to expand their businesses by establishing new food process units as Government has choosen Jammu for dairy products, Rajouri and Kathua for spices, Poonch for mutton and poultry processing, Kishtwar as well as Doda for walnut processing, Ramban for honey processing, Udhampur for pickles and Jam, Reasi for organic vegetables and Samba for mushroom for coverage under ODOP initiative.
With apex Level Approval Committee (ALAC) Committee under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Dr A K Mehta approving implementation plan for financial years 2022-23, 2023-24 & 2024-25, for an amount of Rs 5778.76 lakh for establishing or upgrading 1500 individual units in food processing sector a in next three years, the micro food processing units are likely to increase unprecedentedly in next three years which won’t only hopefully generate new employment opportunities in the micro food processing industry but would also boost apple industry in Kashmir valley along with agriculture and allied sectors of agriculture farming in both Jammu division and as well as Kashmir valley.
Not only in Jammu the ODOP scheme is designed to boost agriculture businesses in Kashmir Valley also where the focus of the scheme is equally on allied agriculture businesses . In Kashmir Valley the Government has chosen Anantnag for Trout Fish, Pulwama for saffron, Srinagar for flowers, Budgam for exotic vegetables, Baramulla for dairy products, Kupwara for walnuts, Ganderbal for honey and Bandipora for processed poultry and mutton. While Shopian and Kulgam districts have been choosen for apple, the scope for bringing apple under this scheme is also found in Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora and several parts of Ganderbal and Budgam districts of North and Central Kashmir also. With apex Level Approval Committee (ALAC) Committee under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Dr A K Mehta approving implementation plan for financial years 2022-23, 2023-24 & 2024-25, for an amount of Rs 5778.76 lakh for establishing or upgrading 1500 individual units in food processing sector a in next three years, the micro food processing units are likely to increase unprecedentedly in next three years which won’t only hopefully generate new employment opportunities in the micro food processing industry but would also boost apple industry in Kashmir valley along with agriculture and allied sectors of agriculture farming in both Jammu division and as well as Kashmir valley.
