From Subsidy to Shelf: A Value-Chain Activation Framework for Women-Owned Micro Food Enterprises under PMFME

Author

Veena G. Sarathi , Dr. Sudha K


Abstract

 Purpose. Government support for micro food enterprises is expected to improve enterprise development, yet the market mechanism linking support with sustainable growth remains insufficiently specified. This paper develops the PMFME Value-Chain Activation and Market Embeddedness Framework (PV-ME), connecting PMFME Value-Chain Support, Market-Sensing Capability, Collective Market Embeddedness, Entrepreneurial Resilience and Sustainable Enterprise Growth, with Digital-Market Readiness as a boundary condition. Design and approach. An integrative conceptual review was undertaken using peer-reviewed literature and official Government of India and PMFME sources on women’s entrepreneurship, finance, digital capability, social capital, market relationships, resilience and sustainability. Findings. The framework argues that PMFME support can strengthen market-sensing capability when financial, technical, formalisation, infrastructure and market resources are connected. Market sensing is expected to develop continuing customer, supplier and network relationships, which can strengthen entrepreneurial resilience and sustainable enterprise growth. Originality/value. The paper moves beyond subsidy-to-performance reasoning by introducing a value-chain-to-market mechanism and by treating collective market embeddedness as a relational bridge between market capability and resilience. Five postulates are proposed for future empirical testing.



Keywords

PMFME, women-owned enterprises, value-chain activation, market sensing, market embeddedness, entrepreneurial resilience, sustainable growth



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References


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