New Delhi, May 29: Biju Janata Dal(BJD) Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Sasmit Patra on Friday urged the Union Government to establish a National Millet, Tribal Agro-Processing & GI Products Mega Food Park for the undivided Koraput region comprising Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur and Malkangiri districts of Odisha.

Dr. Patra met Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Chirag Paswan in New Delhi and submitted a detailed proposal highlighting the immense untapped potential of the region in millet cultivation, tribal agriculture, organic farming, GI-tagged products and agro-processing industries.

In his representation, Dr. Patra stated that the undivided Koraput region possesses one of India’s richest combinations of millet ecosystems, indigenous tribal agriculture traditions, Koraput Coffee production and GI-tagged Kalajeera Rice, yet continues to lack integrated food-processing and value-addition infrastructure.

He emphasised that a Mega Food Park under the PM Kisan Sampada Yojana framework could become a transformational institution for tribal livelihood enhancement, women-led rural enterprise, export-oriented agro-industrial growth and sustainable rural industrialisation in southern Odisha.

The proposal includes, Millet processing and value-addition infrastructure, Koraput Coffee processing, branding and export facilities, Kalajeera Rice packaging and export promotion ecosystem, Tribal agro-processing and organic food infrastructure, Food testing, certification and cold-chain systems
and Integration of women self-help groups and Farmer Producer Organisations into processing ecosystems

Dr. Patra noted that the vision consistently articulated by former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has focused on empowering tribal farmers, women producers and indigenous communities through value addition, food processing and rural enterprise development.

He further pointed out that while several Indian states have developed dedicated crop-specific food-processing ecosystems, the nationally recognised millet and tribal agriculture ecosystem of Koraput still awaits a dedicated Mega Food Park aligned with its unique agricultural strengths.

Dr. Patra expressed hope that the Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries would give serious consideration to the proposal in view of its potential to generate employment, enhance farmer incomes, strengthen exports and drive long-term regional transformation across southern Odisha.