Mayiladuthurai entrepreneur builds thriving food unit with support under PM-FME scheme

What began as a small dream at Kulichar village has now turned into a model success story for government-supported entrepreneurship in the delta region. With financial assistance under the Prime Minister’s Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM-FME) Scheme, P. Ponnusamy, proprietor of SKP Foods and Masala, has built a thriving spices manufacturing unit that now employs 14 people — eight of them women.

Operating from the SIDCO Industrial Estate at Mannambandal near Vadakarai, Mr. Ponnusamy’s unit produces up to 400 kg of chilli powder and other spice mixes every day. His products, he says, are made “just like how we prepare at home — without colouring or preservatives,” and are sold both in retail and small-scale wholesale across the district.

Mr. Ponnusamy received a bank loan of ₹40 lakh with a government subsidy of ₹3.5 lakh under the PM-FME scheme, which is implemented through the District Industries Centre (DIC). He invested in additional machinery worth ₹12 lakh to expand production. “This scheme gave me the courage and support to start on my own. It not only created employment but also strengthened my family’s livelihood,” he said and thanked the district administration for the initiative.

Thirumurugan K, Joint Director, District Industries Centre, said: “The government is actively supporting many such MSMEs through the PM-FME and other entrepreneurship schemes.”

The Tamil Nadu Small Industries Development Corporation (SIDCO) estate in Kulichar, spread over 12.56 acres, houses 61 industrial plots, all allotted and operational. Sectors range from tyre retreading and cement block production to food and spice processing, aluminium fabrication, and general engineering.

Under the PM-FME scheme alone, 1,393 beneficiaries in the district had received ₹3.24 crore in financial assistance, including a ₹2.57 crore government subsidy, to formalise and expand food processing units.