Mrs. Neelam Verma is a beneficiary of the PMFME Scheme from Solan district, Himachal Pradesh. In Solan, she is well-known for her "Neelam Pickles" brand. The brand is popularly known for its outstanding taste, authenticity, and packaging.
Pickle making was just a hobby for Neelam. She was aware that the perfect taste of the pickle is dependent on the correct mixing of various ingredients in the best proportion and the perfect timing for processing. Pickles can enhance the enjoyment of an entire meal.
So, in 2018, she transformed her pickle-making hobby into a promising and well-known pickle brand. She became a member of Nari Shakti Sangathan, and with the assistance of the Himachal Pradesh State Rural Livelihood Mission team, her efforts grew into a full-fledged entrepreneurial venture. She founded RS Food Processor and began selling pickles in the Solan district under the brand "Neelam pickles."
She sells a wide range of pickles, including mixed pickle, mango pickle, mushroom pickle, lemon pickle, galgal pickle, karela pickle, chilly pickle, garlic pickle, mushroom pickle, lingar pickle, jimikand pickle, amla pickle, ginger pickle, and jackfruit pickle.
The journey of starting the brand and making it successful was not easy for her. She had to overcome numerous obstacles. The most difficult challenge she faced was obtaining a loan for working capital to expand her business.
On 31 st August 2021, Mrs. Neelam received the seed capital support of Rs. 40,000 under the PM Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises (PMFME) for working capital and the purchase of small tools and equipment.
The seed capital assistance under the Scheme helped her in purchasing a gas stove and utensils that aided in the quicker and easier preparation of the pickles and chutneys. The equipment enabled her enterprise to produce a large quantity of pickles in response to the market demand.
Mrs. Neelam also received training in “large-scale manufacturing, marketing, and retailing of pickle-making products” under the capacity building component of the PMFME Scheme.
The seed capital support has increased this Aatmanirbhar Enterprise's production capacity to 20% and meet the soaring market demand. In addition to pickles, she has also introduced products like Chutneys (Green Chukh, Red Chukh, Mango Chutney, Rhododendron Chutney and Apple Chutney), Sharbat (Rhododendron, Brahmi, Lemon, Orange, Rose, and Anar), Jam (Apple and mixed), Tomato Sauce, Peetha (Sweet Peetha, Paan Peetha, Anguri Peetha, Dil Chop Peetha, and Kesar Peetha) and Haldi. Mrs. Neelam intends to market the products in nearby districts such as Shimla and Sirmaur. She actively promotes her brand on WhatsApp and Facebook.
RS Food Processor is marketing its products in the local markets in the district and generated annual revenue of around Rs. 2,40,000 for FY 2020-21.
Business Details
Location of the enterprise: Village Sanet, P.O. Mamlign, Tehsil Kandaghat, district Solan, H.P.- 173222
State: Himachal Pradesh
District: Solan
Contact: verma.neelam90@yahoo.in
(Content shared by National Rural Livelihood Mission and Himachal Pradesh State Rural Livelihood Mission)