New Delhi, June 8 -- Bihar has emerged as the top beneficiary of the Centre's Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme, with processing clusters built around local specialties such as foxnut (makhana) and litchi giving a fillip.

Since the scheme's launch in FY21, 31,735 enterprises in Bihar have received support under the programme-the highest in the country-ahead of larger states Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh, according to a senior official in the food processing ministry. The scheme has seen maximum participation in sectors linked to grain processing, oil and oilseeds and fruits and vegetables processing, which account for the bulk of activities undertaken by the benef...