PRAYAGRAJ, Feb. 22 -- Under the Prime Minister Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) initiative being implemented by the horticulture department, the Prayagraj district has secured the first position in Uttar Pradesh. According to Saurabh Srivastava, district horticulture officer, Prayagraj has provided financial assistance to the highest number of entrepreneurs in the state. Out of a target of 1,694 units, the department has sanctioned loans to 1,025 units as of February 16, 2026, while loan processes for 291 units are currently underway. The district has achieved 60.65% of its target - the highest in the state, he shared on Saturday. Within the Prayagraj division, Kaushambi and Fatehpur districts have also secured positions among the top five districts in Uttar Pradesh. Kaushambi stands second, while Fatehpur ranks fifth. Across the Prayagraj division, financial assistance has been extended to 2,572 units. Of these, 547 units are in Pratapgarh, 427 in Kaushambi, and 573 in Fatehpur. Sandeep Kumar, a resident of Hathigawan in Prayagraj district, has emerged as a successful entrepreneur under the scheme. Determined to start mushroom production, he required more than Rs.35 lakh to establish a high-quality button mushroom production unit. Sandeep said he lacked sufficient capital to set up an air-conditioned facility necessary for mushroom cultivation. He approached the horticulture department for support and received financial assistance of Rs.10 lakh under the PMFME scheme. Today, his mushroom production unit, established at a cost of over Rs.35 lakh, is producing high-quality button mushrooms. He supplies mushrooms to major hotels in the city and caters to large wedding events, becoming a role model for aspiring entrepreneurs in the region....