Andhra Pradesh: Tribal Coffee Farmers to Get Subsidised Tools Under PMFMPE

Visakhapatnam: Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) project officer, V. Abhishek, highlighted the need to empower tribal coffee farmers, who are members of self-help groups (SHGs), by providing them with essential tools for coffee cultivation under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFMPE) scheme.

Addressing a meeting here on Wednesday, Abhishek announced that tribal coffee farmers would receive vital tools for coffee processing, including baby pulpers, aluminium ladders, and tarpaulins for pepper cultivation, with a 35 per cent subsidy per unit. He detailed the subsidy breakdown as follows: Rs 55,000 for essential tools (50 per cent subsidy), Rs 42,000 for baby pulpers (50 per cent subsidy), Rs 15,000 for aluminium ladders, and Rs 5,000 for tarpaulins.

The total estimated cost of the PMFMPE scheme is Rs 1,17,000, with the remaining balance, after applying subsidies, to be met through bank loans. Beneficiaries are required to contribute Rs 10,000 as their share.

Abhishek suggested conducting awareness meetings with SHG members at the mandal level to promote the PMFMPE scheme. He also urged banking institutions to expedite loan processing for eligible beneficiaries.

Representatives from the coffee board, the ITDA coffee department, the district rural development agency (DRDA), and various banking institutions attended the meeting.