PMFME scheme turns Bihar youth into mushroom entrepreneur, creates 12 jobs in Sheikhpura
Synopsis
A graduate who returned from Delhi to Sheikhpura, Bihar, used the PMFME scheme to build a mushroom production unit that now supplies multiple districts and West Bengal — and employs 12 people. It's a small but concrete illustration of whether micro-enterprise schemes can reverse rural-to-urban migration and generate local jobs.
Key Takeaways
Sanjeet Barnwal of Sheikhpura, Bihar established a mushroom production business under the PMFME scheme .
His unit supplies mushrooms to Lakhisarai , Nawada , Jamui , and markets in West Bengal .
The venture has created employment for approximately 12 people in the region.
Barnwal had previously worked in Delhi before returning to Bihar to pursue entrepreneurship.
The PMFME scheme is part of the Centre's Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan , targeting formalisation of micro food processing enterprises.
Sanjeet Barnwal, a young resident of Sheikhpura in Bihar, has built a growing mushroom production business after receiving support under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme. His venture now supplies mushrooms across multiple districts and has created employment for approximately 12 people, offering a grassroots example of the scheme's reach in rural and semi-urban India.
From Delhi Job to Hometown Enterprise
After completing his graduation in Delhi, Barnwal spent roughly a year working with a private company before deciding to return to Sheikhpura in search of independent business opportunities. He initially attempted grain trading, but found the returns insufficient to meet his financial goals.
The turning point came during a visit to the District Industries Department office in Sheikhpura, where a friend introduced him to the PMFME scheme. Once his application was approved, Barnwal pivoted to mushroom cultivation — a lower-capital agri-processing segment well suited to Bihar's agricultural base.
Business Scale and Reach
Today, Barnwal's mushroom unit packages and distributes produce not only within Sheikhpura city but also to neighbouring districts — Lakhisarai, Nawada, and Jamui — and to markets in West Bengal. The inter-state supply chain signals early commercial viability beyond the immediate local market.
The expansion has allowed Barnwal to employ approximately 12 people, creating direct livelihood opportunities in a region where youth unemployment remains a persistent challenge. This is the kind of micro-level job creation the PMFME scheme was designed to catalyse at scale.
What Barnwal Said
Expressing gratitude for government support, Barnwal said the Centre has introduced several schemes to help unemployed youth become self-reliant. He noted that by taking advantage of such initiatives, young people can move beyond searching for jobs and become job creators themselves. He added that the PMFME scheme helped him take 'important steps towards financial independence.'
Barnwal expressed confidence that with hard work, determination, and access to government support, more young people would establish their own enterprises and contribute to reducing unemployment across India.
About the PMFME Scheme
The PMFME scheme, launched by the Centre as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, aims to formalise and upgrade micro food processing enterprises across India. It provides financial assistance, technical support, and capacity building to individual entrepreneurs and self-help groups in the food processing sector. Bihar, with its large agricultural workforce and high youth unemployment rate, is among the states where the scheme has been actively promoted.
Broader Significance
Barnwal's story reflects a broader pattern emerging in Bihar and other states, where government-backed micro-enterprise schemes are channelling educated youth back to their home districts rather than contributing to urban migration. Notably, the fact that his supply chain extends to West Bengal suggests that even small-scale food processing units in Bihar can develop inter-state commercial links when the product and logistics are right. Whether such individual success stories translate into measurable aggregate employment gains will depend on how consistently the PMFME scheme reaches aspirants beyond district headquarters.
Point of View
Stumbled upon a government scheme, and built something that employs a dozen people. The PMFME scheme's real test is replication at scale, not individual spotlights. Bihar has one of India's highest youth unemployment rates, and while success stories matter for awareness, the harder question is whether scheme access is genuinely reaching aspirants in blocks beyond district headquarters, or whether beneficiaries remain skewed toward those already connected enough to walk into a District Industries Department office.
NationPress
26 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PMFME scheme that helped Sanjeet Barnwal?
The Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme is a Central government initiative launched under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan to formalise and upgrade micro food processing units. It provides financial assistance, technical training, and capacity building to individual entrepreneurs and self-help groups in the food processing sector.
Who is Sanjeet Barnwal and where is he from?
Sanjeet Barnwal is a young entrepreneur from Sheikhpura district in Bihar. After completing his graduation in Delhi and working briefly in a private company, he returned to Sheikhpura and used the PMFME scheme to establish a mushroom production business.
How many jobs has Sanjeet Barnwal's mushroom business created?
Barnwal's mushroom production unit has created employment for approximately 12 people in the Sheikhpura region. The business supplies mushrooms to neighbouring districts including Lakhisarai, Nawada, and Jamui, as well as to markets in West Bengal.
How can youth in Bihar access the PMFME scheme?
Aspiring entrepreneurs can apply for the PMFME scheme through the District Industries Department office in their respective districts. Barnwal himself learnt about the scheme during a visit to the Sheikhpura District Industries Department office, after which his application was approved and he began his venture.
Why is the PMFME scheme significant for Bihar?
Bihar has a large agricultural workforce and high youth unemployment, making it a key target state for the PMFME scheme. By supporting micro food processing enterprises, the scheme aims to generate local employment, reduce urban migration, and help educated youth become job creators rather than job seekers.
