LEH (LADAKH) — Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Shri Chirag Paswan today inaugurated an exhibition under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme at the DC Office Complex in Leh. The event, jointly organized by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) and the Ladakh Administration, aimed to spotlight local entrepreneurship, boost scheme awareness, and create vital market linkages for micro-enterprises.
Focus on Local Potential & Value Creation
Presiding over a high-level review meeting, Shri Paswan emphasized that the agriculture and food processing sectors in Ladakh possess immense untapped potential.
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Shift to Value Addition: The Minister noted that India’s agricultural focus has fundamentally shifted from pure production to value creation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership since 2014.
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Global Superfoods: He specifically highlighted Ladakh’s unique indigenous produce, such as sea buckthorn and apricot, stating they have the potential to compete on the global stage if backed by optimal resource investment.
Modernization and Infrastructure Push
To address existing bottlenecks and boost the shelf-life of regional produce, the Minister outlined several key strategic steps:
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Irradiation Units: The Central and state/UT governments are jointly setting up irradiation facilities across the country to modernize food preservation and meet international export standards.
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Market Integration: He urged local businesses to leverage platforms like World Food India and called for an increase in the frequency of buyer-seller meets to establish direct commercial channels.
Administrative Review
Prior to the exhibition tour, where the Minister interacted directly with local beneficiaries and entrepreneurs, senior officials provided a comprehensive briefing on the region’s food processing landscape. The session was attended by Administrative Secretary Shri Bhubesh Chaudhary, Director of Industries and Commerce Shri Mohammad Ashraf Bhat, MoFPI Joint Secretary Shri D Praveen, and Leh DC Shri Romil Singh Donk.
