Andhra Pradesh seeks PMFME boost for SHG women

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Wednesday, 22 July 2026

The government of Andhra Pradesh has made an appeal to the Central Government for increased assistance to foster entrepreneurship among the women who are linked with Self Help Groups (SHGs) through the Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme.

While encouraging enterprise development, there is also an appeal from the government to introduce policies that would facilitate market access for the products produced by SHGs, thus making women entrepreneurs competitive enough to contribute significantly to the growth of the local economy.

The government of Andhra Pradesh is furthering their mission to create entrepreneurs out of women in SHGs through the creation of more job opportunities in the field of food processing.

Key Highlights:

• AP seeks Centre's support to boost SHG women entrepreneurs under the PMFME scheme
• State proposes direct subsidies, interest relief, and stronger PMFME support for SHG women
• AP pushes for SWAYAM retail outlet at Bhogapuram Airport to expand SHG market access

This move has seen the state’s MSME and Rural Poverty Alleviation Minister, Kondapalli Srinivas, travel to New Delhi on Tuesday, where he had a number of strategic meetings with senior officers at the Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries. In his company were some state officials, who accompanied him in meeting the Union Secretary, Avinash Prakash Joshi, and Joint Secretary, Devesh Deval, to expedite the process of implementing the Prime Minister Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme in Andhra Pradesh.

According to Kondapalli, subsidies offered to businesses set up using loans from Stree Nidhi should be transferred to Stree Nidhi itself to ensure better fund utilization and faster disbursement of benefits. In addition, he demanded that women in SHGs taking loans from Stree Nidhi should get equal interest subvention as the one enjoyed by banks under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF). Furthermore, he has asked for designation of federations at district and mandal level as PMFME District Resource Organizations (DROs).

It is believed that such efforts will help in creating an inclusive entrepreneurship environment for the SHG women through training and mentoring as well as hand-holding throughout their entrepreneurial process.

As per Kondapalli, ministers Avinash and Devesh have welcomed the proposals put forth by the Andhra Pradesh government. It has been assured that the requests made in relation to subsidy and interest subvention will be taken up on an urgent basis. Kondapalli is optimistic that with increased support from the Centre, PMFME Scheme will benefit many SHG women in rural Andhra Pradesh.

These measures are anticipated to open up new avenues for entrepreneurship, employment, and earning incomes sustainably for the SHG women working in the field of food processing.

In a meeting between Union Civil Aviation Minister K R M Naidu and the GMR Airport authorities, Srinivas asked for retail space for the SWAYAM brand. As per the information from the minister, the Union minister as well as the GMR authorities gave a positive response regarding this request. This project would help bring greater exposure to the goods produced by SHGs and would provide better market avenues for the local produce.