Reviving Tradition: Odisha's New Agricultural Initiative

The Odisha government unveiled a scheme to restore traditional crops and food culture, benefiting 60,000 farmers in 15 districts. The five-year program, focusing on biodiversity hotspots, aims to document landraces, enhance nutritional profiles, and position Odisha as a leader in reviving neglected agricultural heritage.

The Odisha government has launched an ambitious scheme aimed at restoring the state's traditional agricultural and food heritage, focusing on the conservation and marketing of indigenous crops. Expected to benefit 60,000 farmers, the program will span 25 blocks across 15 districts over five years, starting from 2025-26, according to officials.

The scheme, titled 'Revival and Sustainable Intensification of Forgotten Food & Neglected Crops in Odisha,' targets areas near biodiversity hotspots and ecologically sensitive zones. It also aims to provide financial support to tribal farmers, enhancing their livelihood prospects, government sources confirmed.

Under the guidance of Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and spearheaded by Arabinda Kumar Padhee of the Agriculture & Farmers' Empowerment Department, the initiative seeks to document landraces and recipes, conduct nutritional profiling, and establish an open digital knowledge platform, positioning Odisha as a global model for agricultural revival.

(With inputs from agencies.)