Union Minister Chirag Paswan inaugurates PMFME Incubation Centre at Tezpur University

Source: Press Information Bureau (PIB)
Posted On: 13 March 2026

Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Chirag Paswan inaugurated a state-of-the-art Common Incubation Centre at Tezpur University in Sonitpur district of Assam on 13 March 2026. The centre has been set up with full financial assistance from the Ministry of Food Processing Industries under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme.

The incubation centre aims to function as a modern food-processing innovation and entrepreneurship hub supporting micro food processing enterprises, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), cooperatives, startups and aspiring entrepreneurs.

The programme began with the inauguration of the PMFME Incubation Centre in the presence of several dignitaries including Tezpur MLA Prithiraj Rabha, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries D. Praveen, and Pro-Vice Chancellor of Tezpur University Amarendra Kumar Das. The minister also interacted with PMFME scheme beneficiaries, entrepreneurs, startups, faculty members and other stakeholders from the food processing ecosystem.

In his welcome address, Prof. Amarendra Kumar Das highlighted the importance of the initiative and thanked the Ministry of Food Processing Industries for its support. He informed that the Department of Food Engineering and Technology at Tezpur University will provide technical guidance and mentorship to entrepreneurs in processing technologies, packaging, branding, labelling and food safety compliance.

During his remarks, Joint Secretary D. Praveen emphasised the need for collaboration between government, academia and entrepreneurs to build a strong food-processing sector. He also stated that the ministry has provided financial assistance of ₹2.35 crore for the incubation centre.

MLA Prithiraj Rabha encouraged students to pursue food-processing and skill-development courses to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the sector and contribute to regional economic growth and employment generation.

Addressing the gathering, Union Minister Chirag Paswan highlighted the Government of India’s vision to strengthen the food-processing ecosystem in the North-Eastern region through innovation, entrepreneurship and value addition to agricultural produce. He encouraged youth to become job creators instead of job seekers and noted that the food-processing sector offers significant entrepreneurial opportunities.

The minister appreciated the university for establishing seven specialised processing and support lines for fruits, grains, spices, bakery and other segments, which will help entrepreneurs develop and commercialise new products. The facility is expected to serve Sonitpur and neighbouring districts including Darrang, Udalguri, Biswanath, Nagaon and Golaghat.

Highlighting the impact of the PMFME Scheme under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, Paswan noted that loans have been sanctioned to more than 1.87 lakh micro food-processing enterprises across the country, benefiting FPOs, SHGs, cooperatives and farmers through financial assistance, capacity building and market linkages.

He emphasised the importance of a “Farm to Fork” approach to reduce food wastage and strengthen value chains while supporting the vision of doubling farmers’ income. According to the minister, India has the potential to emerge as a “Global Food Basket” through improved production, quality and export of regional food products.

Calling Assam the gateway to the North-East, Paswan reiterated the government’s focus on strengthening food-processing infrastructure in the region and expressed his vision of seeing “Made in India” food products on dining tables around the world.