The Government of Odisha, has launched a scheme titled “Revival and Sustainable Intensification of Forgotten Food & Neglected Crops in Odisha”. The programme will be implemented in 25 blocks across 15 districts in the state and is expected to directly benefit approximately 60,000 farmers. This scheme aims to revive the traditional crop and food culture of Odisha by focusing on conservation, cultivation, value addition, marketing, and awareness generation across the state.
Odisha is renowned for its rich crop and food diversity and presence of agro-ecological hotspot regions including the Koraput region, which is recognised as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Site. The comprehensive scheme outlines several key objectives, including germplasm collection and documentation of associated food cultures, indigenous technical knowledge supporting community conservation through custodian farmers and community live seed banks through state resource centre etc.
Presentation – Dibyabharati Nayak